Zinedine Zidane makes big impact with first Real Madrid starting XI upon return

Sport360 staff 18:39 16/03/2019
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    Zinedine Zidane has wasted little time in making his presence felt back at Real Madrid after bringing the likes of Isco, Marcelo and Gareth Bale back in from the cold.

    The Frenchman, who was re-appointed Los Blancos boss on Monday after the club parted ways with Santi Solari, is set for a rapturous welcome from the Bernabeu crowd ahead of Saturday’s clash with Celta Vigo (GST: 19:15).

    With the title race now a distant memory and their run of three Champions League successes at an end, Zidane has shaken up the pack at the tail-end of a disastrous season engineered by Julen Lopetegui and then Solari.

    Zidane has placed his faith in Isco and Marcelo – the pair who were frozen out by Solari – for the first line-up of his return, as well as Bale. Towards the end of Zidane’s initial reign, his relationship with the Welshman had reportedly become strained.

    Marco Asensio, who has also endured a season to forget, has been awarded a spot while Keylor Navas regains his place in goal at the expense of summer signing Thibaut Courtois.

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