Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale given positional freedom

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez says Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale are free to change positions during a game.

Under previous coach Carlo Ancelotti, Bale usually played on the right wing but Benitez has granted him his wish to adopt a more central position.

Real lost 4-0 to Barcelona last week in La Liga before beating Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Benitez said: "I never said to Bale that he had to play on the left, Cristiano in the middle or Isco on the right.

"They have liberty to interchange positions. Cristiano and Bale can exchange positions whenever they want."

Real took a four-goal lead against Shakhtar but were left hanging on to a 4-3 win by the full-time whistle, but Benitez played down the significance of the late comeback.

"I am quite positive about the way that the team reacted to the Barcelona defeat," Benitez said.

"We needed to bounce back and that is what happened. We moved the ball well, created chances and scored goals.

"We made mistakes after that with two of the goals we conceded coming from dead balls. That is down to a lack of concentration and not difficult to solve."

The Spanish giants currently have defensive concerns with Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo all injured.

Benitez added: "We will work with the players that we have available and try and get the absentees back as soon as possible.

"It is difficult to say how long the players are going to be out as it depends how they respond to treatment but I have full confidence in Pepe and Nacho."