Zinedine Zidane Talks Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Real Madrid

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has revealed that attacking trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are not guaranteed to start in every game when fit. 

Ahead of Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash at Sporting Lisbon, although Zidane said the prolific trio deserve respect, he hinted he would not be averse to dropping them if needed, per AS (via Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC):

"It's not that they are untouchable, it's that they are the best players on account of what they've done. They are great players, like the others, but a little bit more. They'll get more playing time than the rest of the squad, but the others will also get their share of minutes."

In Real's 3-0 Saturday thrashing of Atletico Madrid in La Liga, the recovering Benzema remained on the bench, and Los Blancos thrived with Ronaldo playing as a No. 9, Bale on the left flank and Isco as a playmaker.

It was effectively a 4-4-2 formation with Isco playing just behind Ronaldo, and it allowed Real to have more control in midfield, per Corrigan:

In his report, Corrigan indicated that fit again Benzema is likely to return to the starting XI for Tuesday's clash with Sporting, and either Isco or Lucas Vazquez will make way.

Zidane will likely return to playing a 4-3-3, with Benzema, Bale and Ronaldo being fielded in attack in the positions from which they have been so devastating in recent seasons. 

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

However, following the success of the system deployed against Atleti, it is arguable that is not always the way Real should be set up, even if all three are fit.

Zidane explained further that his selection is based on who Real's opponents are and hailed the effectiveness of the system against Atleti, per AS (via Corrigan):

"

When I send my team out I do so to try and win that particular game. We study the opposition and they also look at us. According to the information we gather, we do certain things defensively and others in attacking areas. 

I believe that I've got the best players and setting them up in one particular way or another doesn't alter anything. Against Atletico, it was the first time we'd used that system. But our idea is always the same, regardless of the formation, it's for everyone to give everything.

"

Along with Benzema; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Toni Kroos, Casemiro and Alvaro Morata were all missing from the starting lineup against Atletico and yet Real ran out easy winners.

So much so that Zidane could afford to take off Ronaldo—who had scored a hat-trick—with seven minutes remaining, and, unlike when he was substituted earlier in the season against Las Palmas, the Portuguese superstar looked more than happy to make way for James Rodriguez.

Ronaldo, Benzema and Bale have made up Real's star forward line since the Welshman joined the club in 2013 and they will likely remain the key trio in 2016-17.

However, given the options Zidane now has available to him and the numerous systems into which he can fit his personnel, they are seemingly no longer the untouchables they once were.