Navas replaces dropped Casillas against Elche

23 September 2014 06:01

Costa Rican World Cup star Keylor Navas replaced under-fire Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas in goal for the European champions' La Liga match at home to Elche on Tuesday.

Casillas had started each of Los Blancos' previous eight games this season, but has conceded 11 times and was even booed by the home fans at the Santiago Bernabeu during the 2-1 loss to Atletico Madrid and 5-1 victory over Basel last week.

The Spanish international also had a torrid time at the World Cup as he conceded seven times in two outings as the former world champions were dumped out in Brazil at the group stage.

By contrast, Navas was one of the key players in Costa Rica's surprise run to the quarter-finals and makes his Real debut after sealing a 10 million-euro ($12.8 million, £7.9 million) transfer from Levante in July.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti makes four changes in all from the side that started Saturday's 8-2 thrashing of Deportivo la Coruna as Spanish trio Dani Carvajal, Isco and Asier Illarramendi also come into the side at the expense of Alvaro Arbeloa, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema.

Source: AFP