Forward Gareth Bale will be rested for Real Madrid's final Champions League group game against Malmo on Tuesday.

Real have qualified for the last 16 as Group A winners.

Bale's name has been left off the 19-man squad  as boss Rafael Benitez rotates his players before Sunday's league match at Villarreal.

"This isn't an ordinary match but while we respect Malmo we'll also be thinking ahead to beating Villarreal," said Benitez.

Third-placed Real trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by four points and last week were expelled from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player.

Cristiano Ronaldo, the competition's all-time top scorer with 84 goals - five more than Barcelona's Lionel Messi - is included in the squad to face Malmo.

Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Luka Modric has also been rested along with keeper Keylor Navas.

"We have to try and win with a good performance to keep confidence high," added Benitez.

"We've won our last four matches.

"The mood around the camp won't change if it's not a great match, however, if we do play well and win it will have a positive effect on morale."

Malmo entered this season's Champions League at the second qualifying round.

However, the 2014 Swedish champions cannot progress having lost four of their five group games.