Real Madrid reconvenes this week in anticipation of a big game against Espanyol before a Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk. This will likely offer opportunities for rotations amongst the players, but there could be some unrest in the camp.

The center of the seeming discontent is Spaniard Isco, who came over to the team ahead of the 2013-14 season, but has been able to win a role in the starting XI with consistency.

He had a splendid preseason and was arguably the star player for Rafa Benitez, but his performance in the opening game of the season, when Madrid floundered in a 0-0 draw with Sporting Gijon, left a lot to be desired. It certainly did not help that James Rodriguez, who replaced him in the starting lineup, was stellar in the follow-up against Real Betis.

In the current 4-2-3-1, it seems impossible that Isco gets a chance to be the main man. Karim Benzema was a huge catalyst for Madrid's offensive outburst against Betis and his presence as a striker not only makes his a great attacking weapon, but also a creative one.

Cristiano Ronaldo is immovable unless he is injured or moved. Even if he diminishes his level of play, Ronaldo is still the most dangerous forward on this team and he will likely be the leading go scorer by year's end.

That leaves a competition with Isco and Gareth Bale for a starting spot. Rodriguez looked like the creative fulcrum of the team and when he was out against Gijon, the team was sorely lacking in that department. As it stands, Rodriguez is likely also an automatic player in the starting lineup, injury withstanding.

Then comes the legend of Bale. The Welshman is the most expensive player of all time and thus gets first dibs on that reason alone.

Benitez is giving Bale every chance to be the playmaker in this team, hoping to justify the purchase for Madrid while igniting the offensive in a more direct way.

That said, Bale is not at his best in the middle of the pitch behind the striker and there may come a time when he falters in this responsibility. Betis is one thing. Valencia, Sevilla, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will certainly not allow him the space to create and score the way he did against the newly promoted player.

When that happens, then Isco might finally have a chance to reclaim his starting spot. He is more adept at holding the ball in tight spaces than Bale and games against those aforementioned elite opponents will require that kind of skill set to help Madrid win.

Rodriguez and Isco actually looked terrific together when given a chance. How could it not? Too players with terrific technique and great vision working in tandem with some of the most lethal attackers in the world? How could it fail?

In the past, he would have gotten a chance when Toni Kroos or Luka Modric were injured, but with Casemiro and Mateo Kovacic as direct understudies, the writing seems to be on the wall for the young Spaniard.

For the moment however, the starting XI is full and Isco will have to wait his turn. If Bale falters massively, he might have his chance. Otherwise it might be time to go to greener pastures.