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Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane believes his side can dream of pulling off an incredible comeback to usurp Barcelona and win La Liga today.
Madrid need to win a 12th consecutive La Liga game at Deportivo la Coruna and hope that Barca slip up away at Granada to deny their eternal rivals the title.
Zidane has fared remarkably well in his first senior managerial role after being promoted from coaching the club’s youth team in the third tier of Spanish football to replace the sacked Rafael Benitez in January.
Under the Frenchman’s tutelage, Madrid have fought back from a 12-point deficit in March to close to within a point of Barca heading into the final game, while also reaching the Champions League final, where they face Atletico Madrid later this month.
“That’s the dream. I’ve been at this club for a long time as a player, then in many different roles and now finally as coach,” Zidane said yesterday.
“The president has given me this opportunity to coach at this club and I want to do my upmost to ensure we win matches.
“I’ve learnt a lot in four or five months. Coaching (Real Madrid) Castilla in the Segunda B isn’t the same as coaching this team, but I like it a lot.”
However, Zidane recognised that despite Madrid’s fine run, he will ultimately be judged on whether the Spanish giants end the season by winning either La Liga or the Champions League.
“The important thing for me is the work I’ve done up till now has been good,” he added.
“There were many doubts and I’ve still not won anything, but I’m happy with what I’m doing.”
Madrid will be boosted by the return of Gareth Bale for the visit to Deportivo after the Welshman’s fine form was interrupted by a knee injury that forced him to miss last weekend’s 3-2 win over Valencia.
Fixtures
Today: Deportivo la Coruna v Real Madrid, Granada v Barcelona, Atletico Madrid v Celta Vigo, Athletic Bilbao v Sevilla.
Tomorrow: Malaga v Las Palmas, Espanyol v Eibar, Rayo Vallecano v Levante, Real Betis v Getafe, Sporting Gijon v Villarreal.
Spanish La Liga Table
P W D L GF GA GD Pts
Barcelona 37 28 4 5 109 29 80 88
Real Madrid 37 27 6 4 108 34 74 87
Atletico 37 27 4 6 61 18 43 85
Villarreal 37 18 10 9 44 33 11 64
Celta de Vigo 37 17 9 11 51 57 -6 60
Athletic Club 37 17 8 12 55 44 11 59
Sevilla 37 14 10 13 50 47 3 52
Malaga 37 11 12 14 34 34 0 45
Real Sociedad 37 12 9 16 44 48 -4 45
Las Palmas 37 12 8 17 44 49 -5 44
Valencia CF 37 11 11 15 46 47 -1 44
Eibar 37 11 10 16 47 57 -10 43
Deportivo 37 8 18 11 45 59 -14 42
Real Betis 37 10 12 15 32 51 -19 42
Espanyol 37 11 7 19 36 72 -36 40
Granada CF 37 10 9 18 46 66 -20 39
Getafe 37 9 9 19 36 65 -29 36
Sporting de Gij 37 9 9 19 38 62 -24 36
Rayo Vallecano 37 8 11 18 49 72 -23 35
Levante 37 8 8 21 36 67 -31 32
— Reuters.
derick.khumalo