sábado, 28 de abril de 2018

Real Madrid v Leganes preview: Zinedine Zidane sets sights on second

Zinedine Zidane insists finishing second in La Liga remains an important objective despite Real Madrid being on the brink of history in the Champions League.
Los Blancos have endured an indifferent season domestically and head into Saturday's home game against Leganes - live on Sky Sports Mix - third in the table and four points behind city rivals Atletico.
But while the Spanish league title is destined to return to Barcelona, Real can soften that blow by clinching a third consecutive Champions League crown, becoming the first club in the modern era to do so.
Zidane's side play the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Tuesday night against Bayern Munich - the last club to win three European Cups in a row back in the 1970s - with a 2-1 lead after the first game in Germany.
But the Real Madrid head coach insists attention is firmly back on finishing as high as possible in the Primera Division.
"The objective is the same as it's been in recent matches, try to add points in order to get second place," Zidane told the club's official website.
"We've five games to go, Atletico have four remaining, and we want to do our best to finish as high as possible up the table.
"Everything is valuable and you can't choose between titles. We can only win the Champions League, but tomorrow we're playing in the league and we want to finish well.
"It's not unimportant and we must do well and do our best. Then on Tuesday, we're a game from the final in the Champions League and that means a lot to us as well."
Incredibly, despite eight major trophies in his two-and-a-half years in charge of Real Madrid, including two Champions League titles, there have been reports that Zidane's job could be under threat due to the club's disappointing LaLiga campaign.
The 45-year-old feels he is yet to stamp his mark on the team and needs more time to do so.
Real Madrid came from behind to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the Champions League semi-finals
Real Madrid came from behind to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 in the Champions League semi-finals
"I've been here for a few years now and you're talking about coaches who had a lot of time with their teams," he said.
"I'm happy, I like it and we're doing well in general. They've been good for two and a half years, but we have to wait a bit to say that it's Zidane's Real Madrid.
"I need more time to prove things. We have to carry on. I want to continue, but the important thing is the day-to-day. We have a month of competition and nothing else. I'm focused on doing well and ending the season well."

Team news

Dani Carvajal and Isco are nursing minor injuries following the 2-1 win against Bayern Munich and they are unlikely to be risked with next week's second leg so close. Nacho is doubtful after his recent injury.
Dani Carvajal is doubtful to feature against Leganes on Saturday
Dani Carvajal is doubtful to feature against Leganes on Saturday
Leganes winger Alexander Szymanowski will miss the trip to the Bernabeu while defender Ezequiel Munoz is doubtful.

Opta stats

  • Real Madrid have won each of their three league games against Leganes, scoring at least three goals in each of those encounters.
  • In their last meeting at Santiago Bernabeu, the Whites lost against Leganes, 1-2 on 24th January in the Copa del Rey.
  • Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 11 league derbies (W8 D3), failing to score in only one of these games (0-0 vs Atletico in November 2017).
  • On the other hand, Leganes have never won a derby in the top-flight (P9 D3 L6).
  • Real Madrid have not lost any of their last seven league games (W5 D2) and they could go unbeaten in eight in a row for the first time this season.
Zidane not worried by Real future
Zinedine Zidane says he is focused on Real Madrid's Champions League tie against Paris St Germain and not about his future.
Zinedine Zidane says he is focused on Real Madrid's Champions League tie against Paris St Germain and not about his future.
  • Leganes have failed to win in their last 13 La Liga away games (D3 L10), failing to score in eight of them.
  • Leganes are the only team that Cristiano Ronaldo has failed to score against in his La Liga career.
  • The Portuguese player has scored 24 goals in La Liga this season and he has reached 25+ goals in each of his previous eight seasons for Real Madrid.
  • Karim Benzema has scored only two goals in his last 10 La Liga games, both from the penalty spot, the only two penalties he has taken for Real Madrid in the competition.
  • Javier Eraso has been involved in at least one goal in each of his three visits to the Santiago Bernabeu in all competitions (two goals and two assists).

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