Real Madrid v Celta Vigo: Intrigue surrounds Zinedine Zidane return and other talking points

Here are the talking points ahead of Saturday’s fixture (19:15 UAE KO) at Santiago Bernabeu:

DOES ZIZOU PRESENT THE CURE?

Zidane departed a club for whom he’d bequeathed a third-successive Champions League upon.

In total, the Frenchman had won nine trophies across 149 matches. From this run, 393 goals were scored and 104 wins were registered.

His 150^th match in charge, however, witnesses him take the reins of a fallen third-placed giant whose visage of supremacy – as he predicted – has been vividly cracked during 10 painful months without him.

Insight into why Zidane was reappointed – and Jose Mourinho, ultimately, ignored – can be mined from an interview before May’s European showpiece.

“I may not be the best tactician, but I have other qualities,” Zidane told reporters, as cited by Marca.

“Motivation and passion are values that I have, and that is worth a lot more.”

Positivity, endeavour and feats of daring-do will be expected on Saturday against opponents that last won on February 2. Plus, have lost nine of their previous 12 fixtures.

With no game of any genuine relevance for the next six months, putting a smile back on the ashen faces of the Santiago Bernabeu hordes is vital. The preceding four fixtures there have been lost, a run that includes harrowing consecutive El Clasico reversals versus Barcelona to kill hopes in the Copa del Rey and La Liga plus Ajax’s electrifying round-of-16 dethroning that halted more than 1,000 days as European kings.

Mental and physical rehabilitation are the tasks at hand. A thumping of Celta would be a start.

WHAT CAN BE LEARNED?

Madrid’s team sheet will represent hot reading when it is produced an hour before kick-off.

Will Wales winger Gareth Bale continue to be persona non grata? Can the disobedient – and reportedly out of shape – playmaker Isco be welcomed back and will Spain midfield colleague Dani Ceballos’ withering words about the “impossible” Zidane in the wake of his exit be held against him?

And will trusted lieutenant Marcelo reclaim the left-back berth from Sergio Reguilon, or was Solari correct about this call?

Mounting injuries and an important suspension should means that the XI picks itself. This weakened status, however, guarantees that any snubs become more pronounced.

Wide men Vinicius Junior and Lucas Vazquez remain on the treatment table, where they find emerging midfielder Marcos Llorente. Brazil anchor man Casemiro is banned after a career-first red card.

If Bale or Ceballos are ignored this time, when will they play? Especially after Zidane described the former as someone he is going to “count on” during his pre-match press conference.

Isco’s indiscretions in the build-up to the Ajax loss meant he was made unavailable for Sunday’s 4-1 win at Valladolid that represented Solari’s chaotic last stand.

He had become a trusted player under Zidane in a breakthrough 2016/17. A first top-flight start since Lopetegui’s horrific last outing on October 28 – a 5-1 chasing by champions Barca – will point to a positive future.

If it doesn’t, maybe Isco truly remains on the outer?

The system chosen will also be interesting. For more than two thirds of fixtures in his opening stint, a 4-3-3 – like Solari – was favoured.

A WORD FOR CELTA

The La Liga trap door opens ever wider for sorry Celta.

Without sidelined talisman Iago Aspas, they’ve become chronically toothless. Highly rated Uruguay prospect Maxi Gomez has one goal since December 8, while Denmark winger Pione Sisto now struggles to start.

Fran Escriba this month became the third head coach tasked with extending a seven-year sting in La Liga.

Worryingly for him, Madrid are unbeaten in their last nine matches against Celta. In this spell, they’ve averaged 3.9 goals per match.

The 53-year-old has, thus far, only been at the helm for one game. A 1-0 loss to Real Betis does not seem too disconcerting on paper.

In this home fixture, however, they were a distant second in regards to both possession (63 per cent/37 per cent) and attempts on goal (14 to seven).

Betis tactician Quique Setien also came into the fixture with boos still ringing in the ears after a one win in eight.

A Madrid miracle will be required to spoil Zidane’s special day. Celta seem utterly incapable of producing one.