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Zinedine Zidane is confident Real Madrid can come back from the 2-0 defeat against Wolfsburg in the first leg of the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

Following Los Blancos goal feast against Eibar, the Frenchman claimed they can repeat that against the Germans: “We know it’s going to be an exciting game. We have to overcome two goals. When things are complicated, we can achieve great things at the Santiago Bernabeu.”

The Los Merengues manager was happy with his team’s performance: “You gain confidence every time you win this way, the way we’ve played in the first half. We are very happy and eager to do things well. On Tuesday we have to step up. We have great motivation.”

Zidane admitted the fans will be very important against Wolfsburg: “They know what Tuesday’s match means. The fans are going to be behind us from the first minute until the end. We are all involved to make our fans proud.”

The fans jeered at Danilo, who played a terrible match against Wolfsburg on Wednesday. Asked about this, Zidane said “we know this crowd is very demanding.” “As he was improving in the match, they stopped booing at him. Of course it is annoying. He is a good kid. We all love him,” he added.

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Daniel Carvajal

Real Madrid defender Daniel Carvajal has backed team-mate Danilo, who was booed by the fans in Los Blancos 4-0 victory against Eibar.

The Brazilian put in a poor performance last Wednesday in the Champions League defeat at Wolfsburg, and the Santiago Bernabeu fans have harshly criticised him.

Carvajal supported Danilo claiming that “boos are unfair.” “If they jeer at one of the players, they jeer at all of us,” he explained.

Speaking of the goal feast against Eibar, the Spaniard said “the coach told us to go forward and try to solve the game soon to enjoy it more.”

Carvajal believes Real can still win La Liga: “There are points into play and we are going to fight until the end.”

Asked about the second leg match against Wolfsburg, the right-back confessed it will be tough: “Tuesday will be war. It won’t be only eleven man playing. We are going to have to trash Wolfsburg and hopefully it will be a great night and we will move into the semi-finals.”

“At the Santiago Bernabeu with our fans by our side, it is not utopian to win by a two or three-goal difference. We’ve done it many times, and we hope we’ll do on Tuesday again,” Carvajal concluded.

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Real Madrid Legends will face Ajax Legends at the Santiago Bernabeu in a match set to honour the late Johan Cruyff, it has been confirmed.

The annual Corazon Classic match will take place on June 5 at the iconic stadium in the heart of Madrid and will raise funds for a number of charities around the world.

But the game will take on greater significance this year as it will also be a tribute to former Ajax and Barcelona star Cruyff, who died at the age of 68 in March after a battle with cancer.

Player such as Raul, Fernando Hierro, Roberto Carlos, Patrick Kluivert, Edgar Davids and Clarence Seedorf will take part in the game, organisers have said.

Raul’s agent, Gines Carvajal, told Madrid-based sports daily AS that the legendary striker is 95 per cent confirmed for the game, although he has a couple of engagements in the USA in June as part of his role as an ambassador for La Liga.

The 38-year-old, now retired from the game, made his last appearance at the Santiago Bernabeu when his then side Al Saad visited to take on Los Blancos in the Trofeo Bernabeu.

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james-rodriguez

Real Madrid put presure on Atletico Madrid and Barcelona as they earned a comfortable 4-0 win over Eibar.

All goals came in the first half, with James Rodriguez, Lucas Vasquez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez getting their names on the scoresheet.

Zinedine Zidane lined-up several regular substitutes. In fact, only Pepe, Ronaldo and Casemiro remained from the starting eleven that faced Wolfsburg in the Champions League.

The hosts took the lead with only four minutes on the clock. Dani Garcia brought Jese to the ground with a rash challenge and James stepped up to send a beautiful free kick past Asier Riesgo into the bottom corner.

Fifteen minutes later, Los Blancos doubled their lead when Ronaldo used his strength to hold off Pantic, before setting up Vasquez, who scooped the ball home from close range.

Eibar were very weak defensively and not even one minute later the hosts had their third. Jese raced clear and found Ronaldo and the Portuguese netted his 30th league goal of the season.

A few minutes before the break, Jese Rodriguez made it 4-0. Ronaldo raced down the left before picking out a fine pass into the Spaniard, who had the simple task of beating a hapless Riesgo from close range.

Eibar improved in the second half, but they were unable to beat Kiko Casilla. Real could have also increased their lead, but Ronaldo sent an effort to wide of the post.

Now Los Blancos focus switch to the Champions League quarter-final second leg against Wolfsburg, as they face the difficult task of coming back from a 2-0 defeat in Germany.

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insists his team will be fully focused on today’s game against Eibar and will only switch their attention to the Champions League when it is over.

Los Blancos were shocked by Wolfsburg on Wednesday evening losing 2-0 in Germany in the first leg of their quarter final tie. It leaves them with a mountain to climb on Tuesday night and they would be forgiven it their thoughts were already on that game.

But speaking to the press, Zidane said the team will respect Eibar and also need to put in a good performance to take into the crucial match on Tuesday.

“We have to go out strong and be on our game, and not give them any chance. We have to beat Éibar and then we’ll think about the Champions League. We must respect our opponents, they are going to come out strong, but we know what we have to do to make the game easier,” he stated.

Asked what went wrong in Germany, Zidane responded: “We were certainly missing something, but it wasn’t intensity. It was the second best match in terms of how much we ran, even more than in Barcelona. That means nothing because we lost the game. They scored goals in a short amount of time and that was the mistake, but not due to lack of intensity. We were strong in the first 15 minutes like always, we had chances to get a goal.”

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real madrid football tactics

Zinedine Zidane will display an unusual starting eleven to face Eibar in La Liga on Saturday. Real Madrid will play a crucial match against Wolfsburg on Tuesday and the French manager has decided to rest some of his key players.

Zizou has left Keylor Navas, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema out of the squad. The France international picked up a knob in the first leg match against the Germans, and although he’s not injured, Zidane doesn’t want to risk him. Jese Rodriguez will most likely replace the striker.

Meanwhile, Modric could be replaced by his country-man Mateo Kovacic, who has had very few chances to play lately. Casemiro and Toni Kroos are expected to remain in the starting lineup.

In defence, Zidane will miss injured Raphael Varane and suspended Sergio Ramos. Thus, Nacho Fernandez will start at centre-back alongside Pepe. Alvaro Arbelo could come in at left-back to give Marcelo some rest. And the main doubt is whether the coach will lineup Daniel Carvajal or Danilo at right-back.

Kiko Casilla will be the starting goalkeeper this time, with Navas resting for the Champions League match on Tuesday.

This is Real Madrid’s projected starting eleven: Casilla; Danilo, Pepe, Nacho Fernandez, Arbeloa; Kovacic, Casemiro, Kroos; Jese Rodriguez, Ronaldo, Bale.

This is Eibar’s projected starting eleven: Riesgo; Capa, Pantic, Ramis, Junca; Keko, Escalante, Garcia, Adrian Gonzalez; Peleteiro, Baston.

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Real Madrid Eibar match preview

Zinedine Zidane is ready to make some rotations as Los Blancos face Eibar in La Liga on Saturday. The Los Blancos manager has left some of his regular starters out of the squad, letting them rest for the crucial second leg match against Wolfsburg in the Champions League.

Los Blancos are favourites to win as books have them 1/7 to earn all three points –you can visit GamblingSites.org if you’re looking to place a wager on this match.

Keylor Navas, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric will miss the game due to the manager’s decision. Meanwhile, Raphael Varane is also a loss due to injury and Sergio Ramos is suspended.

Thus, Zidane will be force to make several changes in defence. Nacho Fernandez is expected to come in, and the main doubt is whether Danilo or Daniel Carvajal will play at left back. Even Alvaro Arbeloa could start for Marcelo to get some rest.

Mateo Kovacic could also get a chance to start replacing country-man Modric. Lucas Vazquez and Jese Rodriguez are also expected to get a chance.

Eibar will miss goalkeeper Jaime and defender Ekisa through injury. Mauro dos Santos is suspended and will also miss the match.

Possible lineups:

Real Madrid: Casilla; Danilo, Pepe, Nacho Fernandez, Arbeloa; Kovacic, Casemiro, Kroos; Jese Rodriguez, Ronaldo, Bale.

Eibar: Riesgo; Capa, Pantic, Ramis, Junca; Keko, Escalante, Garcia, Adrian Gonzalez; Peleteiro, Baston.

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Real Madrid are planning a deep overhaul in their squad for next summer. Zinedine Zidane wants to bring young talented players to reinforce the squad and dismiss some of the veterans and those youngsters who are not performing as expected.

Spanish sports website Fichajes.net has claimed those sales could earn Los Blancos up to 300 million euros in the summer transfer market.

According to these reports, Los Merengues could be seriously considering to let James Rodriguez, Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos go. Florentino Perez would expect to get around 100 million euros for the Portuguese, while James Rodriguez and Isco’s price tag will be around 70 million. Toni Kroos transfer could leave between 30 and 40 million euros in Los Blancos bank account.

Zidane and Perez will also let Alvaro Arbeloa and Pepe leave, since they have both turned 33. However, the Spaniard will leave for free, as his contract expires in June, and it seems highly unlikely that any club will pay a high amount of money for the Portuguese defender.

Perez could increase his earnings should he decide to sell one of the players who are being harshly critizised by the fans. Sergio Ramos and Danilo have been blamed for the defensive disaster against Wolfsburg, and many want them out of the Santiago Bernabeu. The Spaniard’s market price is currently around 45 million euros, and Danilo’s is 20 million euros.

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Ricardo Rodriguez would be open to a move from Wolfsburg to Real Madrid, according to the defender’s father.

The 23-year-old Switzerland international is considered one of Europe’s brightest prospects and did his reputation no harm on Wednesday night when he netted from the penalty spot in the German’s shock 2-0 win over Los Blancos in the first leg of their Champions League quarter final tie.

With doubts over Danilo’s long-term future at the club and with Alvaro Arbeloa likely to leave at the end of the current campaign, Real could be on the lookout for a new full back and Rodriguez ticks many boxes.

Speaking to Cadena Cope, Jose Manuel Rodriguez said he had spoken to Real president Florentino Perez as well as Emilio Butragueno.

“I met with Florentino Perez on Wednesday, and with Butragueno, too. We spoke a little, not much. We were talking, but not about football things. He said congratulations, that I had a good player. Maybe with time he might be able to go to Madrid. He would be pleased,” he said.

And he added: “My son wants to go to a bigger team. He wants a career in a bigger team and Spain would be a great option.”

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Zinedine Zidane will rest some of his usual starters ahead of the crucial match against Wolfsburg on Tuesday.

The Real Madrid manager has left Keylor Navas, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric out of the squad to face Eibar on Saturday in la Liga.

Benzema, who picked up a knock in Wednesday’s first leg match against Wolfsburg and had to be replaced, will miss the match out of precaution. He’s not suffering from any injury but Zidane wants him perfectly fit for the second leg.

This will be Real Madrid’s squad for the Eibar match:

Goalkeepers: Kiko Casilla, Ruben Yañez and Craninx.
Defenders: Pepe, Nacho Fernandez, Marcelo, Daniel Carvajal, Alvaro Arbeloa and Danilo.
Midfielders: Toni Kroos, James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale, Mateo Kovacic, Casemiro and Isco.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Borja Mayoral, Lucas Vazquez and Jese Rodriguez.

Kiko Casilla will be the starting goalkeeper. Nacho Fernandez will come in in defence, while youngsters Lucas Vazquez, Mateo Kovacic and Jese Rodriguez could also have a chance to start.

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