Zidane's Real on record hunt ahead of Celta clash

Andy West 04:45 27/08/2016
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Winning form: Zinedine Zidane.

    Real Madrid can take a step closer to an all-time club record by stretching their winning run in La Liga to six months with a victory over Celta Vigo at the Bernabeu on Saturday night.

    Los Blancos suffered their last domestic defeat at home to Atletico Madrid on February 27, but since then Zinedine Zidane’s side have won every single game they have played in La Liga.

    After finishing last season with 12 consecutive triumphs, they opened up the new campaign in solid style with a 3-0 success at Real Sociedad last weekend.

    That leaves Zinedine Zidane’s men needing just three more wins to break the current club record of 15 straight league victories, set way back in 1960/61 – and move level with Barcelona’s all-time La Liga record of 16 consecutive wins.

    Zidane said: “It’s exciting. We started the season very well at a difficult ground. Now it’s the first home game and we want to play as well as we can. We’ve got to come out the blocks to try and get the three points.”

    Zidane is able to reinforce his squad for tonight’s game with the return of Luka Modric after suspension and Pepe following the Portuguese defender’s extended post-Euro 2016 holiday.

    Modric is likely to come straight into the team in place of Mateo Kovacic, but Zidane warned Pepe that he faces a tough fight to dislodge Raphael Varane from the centre of defence.

    Varane has been waiting patiently to disrupt the long-standing partnership between Pepe and Sergio Ramos ever since joining Los Blancos from Lens five years ago, and he has been repeatedly linked with several clubs, including Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain, over the last few months.

    Zidane said: “Varane didn’t want to go anywhere, even though some big offers came in for him. He’s an international and an important player for the club and for me. His quality is still there, but I’ve got four very good centre backs and only two can play.”

    With Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema joined on the sidelines by Isco, who has suffered an ankle injury in training, Zidane is likely to stick with Marco Asensio and Alvaro Morata alongside Gareth Bale in attack.

    Celta endured a highly disappointing start to the season, losing 1-0 at home to top-flight newcomers Leganes on Monday night.

    Eduardo Berizzo’s team have been weakened by the summer sale of striker Nolito to Manchester City, and they are hoping to fill that gap by signing highly-rated Barcelona youngster Munir El Haddadi on loan – a deal which depends on whether Barca are able to conclude their bid to bring Valencia frontman Paco Alcacer to the Nou Camp.

    Berizzo has urged his players to adopt a positive approach rather than hoping they can escape with a goalless draw.

    “If you go to the Bernabeu only to defend, you’re going to have a very long night,” he said. “I recognise that we’re going to face a great team, but our plan is always to win.”

    Recommended