The playmaker starts alongside Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo for the first time in a Blancosteam severely affected by the last round of international fixtures.
The former AC Milan man was on top form for his country over the past week, scoring against both Iraq and Japan as the friendly opponents were blown away 6-0 and 4-0 by the South Americans.
. Injuries to Marcelo, Alvaro Arbeloa and Fabio Coentrao have left Madrid extremely short in the full-back department, so midfielder Michael Essien is drafted in to play on the left side of defence. On the other flank, 19-year-old Frenchman Raphael Varane is Mourinho's choice.
Gonzalo Higuain also makes a return to the first team in an attack-minded formation.
For the visitors, late fitness tests for Nacho Insa and Andres Tunez saw the former fail to make Saturday's clash. The defender, meanwhile, weas declared fit to play and will start in the middle of the back four.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Varane, Ramos, Pepe, Essien; Alonso, Modric; Ozil, Kaka, Ronaldo; Higuain.
Substitutes: Di Maria, Benzema, Nacho, Adan, Callejon, Carvalho, Albiol.
Celta (4-3-3): Varas; Mallo, Cabral, Tunez, Lago; Oubina, Alex Lopez, Bustos; Augusto, Aspas, Krohn-Delhi.
Substitutes: Park Chu-Young, Toni, Bellvis, Varas, Bermejo, Lucas, Samuel.
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