Real Madrid coach Julen Lopetegui insists Mariano Diaz's time will come.

The striker is waiting to make his debut after returning to Real from Olympique Lyon last month.

Lopetegui left Mariano on the bench for yesterday's 1-1 draw at Athletic Bilbao.

"He could have been an option, of course, why not, but we thought that (Gareth) Bale needed a replacement on that wing and we decided to take Lucas out because we knew that we needed to continue with that energy," he said.

"And I think we maintained that pace and created danger by doing this."