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Daniel Carvajal

Real Madrid right back Daniel Carvajal says the team is still in the hunt for La Liga thanks to Luka Modric’s late goal against Granada.

Los Blancos won 2-1 in Andalucia on Sunday evening to close the gap on Barcelona to four points – although the Catalans still have a game in hand. After huffing and puffing for much of the game, it was the Croatian midfielder who came up with the goods in the 84th minute to seal the three points with a brilliant effort.

Talking to the media afterwards, Carvajal said the players know they should have closed out the game earlier on but were pleased to come away with the victory in the end.

“Modric’s goal allows us to stay in the hunt for La Liga and fight until the end. The goal we conceded was an unfortunate bit of play with the referee. We had chances to win. We missed the chance to make it 0-2, that would have made it a more relaxed game. We also take away positive conclusions and three points away from home, it is never easy to win on the road,” he stated.

Looking ahead to the challenges that lie in wait, he commented: “Until it is mathematically impossible, we are going to give everything. We are going to take it game by game, which is ultimately what will lead us to titles. First, we need to beat Athletic and then it will be the game against Roma.”

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says the result was more important than the performance against Granda as Los Blancos closed the gap on Barcelona to four points.

The 10-time Champions League winners had Luka Modric to thank for securing the points with a brilliant effort just five minutes from time after El Abri had cancelled out Karim Benzema’s opener.

Real created plenty of chances but also come under pressure from a Granada side that is fighting for its life at the foot of the table.

Speaking afterwards, Zidane praised his players for the maturity of their performance and said the win was essential.

“I will focus on the win and the three points, which were very important for us. We have to think that we are up against a team. When we play away we face a side and their fans. It is normal for it to be harder than at home. We have to battle for every game and I am happy with the attitude of all the players. It was tough to get the win because it is a difficult pitch. The opponents have good players and make things difficult. That is football and we are not going to win every game easily,” he commented.

The Frenchman was then asked about how his side will improve on their performances, to which he responded: “We are going to try and improve everything. At the back and in attack because we need to score more goals. We had a lot of chances today and we know that at this level we need to put them in order to be a bit more relaxed in our play. We have to improve everything and we are going to.”

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Sergio Ramos

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos praised team-mate Luka Modric after the Croatia international scored the winner in Los Blancos win against Granada on Sunday.

“Modric is indispensable. He doesn’t usually score but he is one of the players that form the spine of this team,” Ramos admitted.

Asked about the differences between the goal feasts they have enjoyed at the Santiago Bernabeu and the difficulties they are suffering in the away games, Ramos said that “it is obvious that not all matches are the same.”

“It has been a close game, and Granada have pushed a lot in the second half. We haven’t had as many chances as at the start of the second half and that has complicated things for us. However, we have insisted and a great goal from Luka has given us all three points. It hasn’t been a great game, but the most important was to get all three points,” he explained.

The Los Blancos captain admitted the players “were imprecise” during the match. “We’ve lost more balls than usual and that has caused that we have been pushed back. Perhaps people will think that at the Bernabeu we usually control possession and that has not happened today. We have to try to keep stability, not only at the Bernabeu, but also away,” Ramos added.

The defender also praised Karim Benzema, who scored Los Merengues’s first goal: “When the forwards are in good form, that’s good for us. Having Karim in such a great shape is good for us. When he is at his best level, he is a unique striker.”

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Luka Modric
Luka Modric celebrates a goal during the Spanish league football match Granada vs Real Madrid JORGE GUERRERO/AFP/Getty Images

Luka Modric saved Real Madrid from dropping two points at Granada with a superb strike from 30 metres. Los Blancos didn’t play a good game and could have even lost as the hosts were superior throughout the second half and had a goal disallowed when the score was 1-1.

Granada started better on the game, with Adalberto Penaranda and Isaac Success hurting Daniel Carvajal and Marcelo in the sides. However, Los Blancos had the best chances of the first half.

Benzema missed a good opportunity to open the score as he received a cross from Carvajal but his over-head kick was just wide.

Cristiano Ronaldo had another super chance as he broke through on the Granada goal, but from a tight angle, he fired just wide of the post.

The visitors finally made it 1-0 after 30 minutes. Carvajal found space down the right and crossed into Benzema, who turned the ball home from close range.

Granada could have levelled early in the second half as Barral leaped high to pummel a header towards goal, but Navas was there to make sure that it doesn’t enter the back of the net.

Benzema miss a stunning opportunity in the next play as he received a pass from Modric inside the box. The Frenchman was clear on goal and applied the finish, but Fernandez incredibly managed to keep it out.

Granada started to threaten Navas and they finally scored as El-Arabi sprinted down the right and latched onto a great cross from Rochina, sliding a finish under the body of Navas.

Minutes later, El Arabi again had the ball in the back of the net as he met a Lomban header after a corner kick, but the goal was disallowed as he was in an offside position.

It looked like Real Madrid were going to drop two points or even three, but Modric saved his team with five minutes to go. The Croatia international found some space outside the box and stroke a super shot into the top corner.

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Granada vs Real Madrid match preview

There are no surprises in Real Madrid’s starting eleven to face Granada. Zinedine Zidane will display the same starting lineup that he picked last week against Espanyol.

Raphael Varane will feature in the centre of defence alongside Sergio Ramos, since Pepe is still on the sidelines. James Rodriguez will be Gareth Bale’s replacement one more time, despite many thought Jese Rodriguez could be picked in this occasion.

The rest are the same men Zidane has trusted in since he arrived at the first team one month ago. Isco will have a leading role again, featuring alongside Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and James in midfield.

Los Blancos starting eleven will be as follows: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; James Rodriguez, Modric, Kroos, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, Granada’s manager Jose Ramon Sandoval has decided to include rising star Adalberto Penaranda, who has recently recovered from an injury and has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

This will be Granada’s starting XI: Andres Fernandez; Lopes, Lomban, Babin, Foulquier; Ruben Perez, Rico; Success, Rochina, Penaranda; Barral.

* Keep reading our Real Madrid blog for the latest updates on the match between Granada and Real Madrid.

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Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard has been linked with a move to Real Madrid for the past few months. Now speculation is set to intensify as the Belgium international has admitted he dreams of working under manager Zinedine Zidane.

The Los Blancos boss is also a confessed admirer of the 25-year-old winger, and many in Spain have claimed he has requested Florentino Perez to bring him next summer.

Hazard is having a poor season at Chelsea as the club are struggling to move away of relegation positions. The player is not happy with the situation, neither is Roman Abramovich with his performances.

Thus, the Chelsea owner could be open to selling Hazard next summer if Los Blancos make an interesting offer. According to the latest Real Madrid transfer rumours, Los Merengues could offer up to 90 million euros.

Hazard arrived at Chelsea in the summer of 2012 on a 40-million-euro move. In four seasons at Stamford Bridge he has made 191 appearances and scored 50 goals.

Since his days at Lille, when he was one of the most sought-after young midfielders in Europe, Hazard has always said that his childhood idol was Zinedine Zidane. Thus, it wouldn’t be surprising if next summer he handed in a transfer request to join Real Madrid.

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has hailed star striker Cristiano Ronaldo, labelling him a beast, and believes he can play at the highest level for many years to come.

The Los Blancos forward turned 31 on Friday – an age in which many consider footballer to be entering the autumn of their careers.

But Ronaldo continues to set all sorts of scoring records and rips defences to shreds across Spain on a weekly basis – and Zidane says his star man will have many more years at the top.

According to the Frenchman, it comes down to Ronaldo’s relentless desire and ambition combined with his incredible effort to look after himself off the pitch.

Talking to journalists about the Porugal captain, he commented: “I feel a certain admiration for Cristiano. I admire him for his goals and for everything he has achieved. I like his ambition. He is never satisfied with what he has done, he always wants more.”

And he added: “He is a super important player for me, for the team and for the fans.I retired at the age of 34, but Cristiano will play on longer. It’s not that I did not look after myself, but he takes a lot of care of his own body and is a beast physically.”

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has cranked up the pressure on his players by warning them they can not afford to drop any more points in the league if they want to catch Barcelona.

Los Blancos visit Granada this weekend and will look to continue their good recent form since the Frenchman took over – they have won three and drawn one, scoring 17 goals along the way, in the four games under Zidane.

But their last trip on the road at Betis ended in a disappointing draw – something that the boss says can not happen again.

Speaking to the media ahead of the match, Zidane said Granada are a better team than their league position of 19th suggests and his players would have to be at their best,

He stated: “It is a difficult game against a strong opponent. We must begin the game strongly. We must do things differently than against Betis. We cannot drop more points. Only a win is any good for us.”

Zidane added: “We know they will come out strong. Against Betis we were not ready and when they score a quick goal against you it is more difficult. With the quality we have we can win the game. The key is to use that quality from the first minute. If we begin the game strongly, as we do at the Bernabeu, everything is easier.”

Quizzed whether he has started to turn his attention to the Roma game in the Champions League, the 1998 World Cup winner commented: “No, we will go with everything now in La Liga, we have time to prepare for the Champions League.”

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Granada vs Real Madrid match preview

Real Madrid visit Granada on Sunday and Zinedine Zidane is expected to display the same starting eleven that trashed Espanyol last week at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Los Blancos manager will miss defender Pepe and forward Gareth Bale. Raphael Varane and James Rodriguez should be their replacements, just like last week.

The French centre-back will feature in defence alongside Marcelo, Sergio Ramos and Daniel Carvajal. Right-back Danilo is also a loss due to injury.

Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Isco will complete the midfield line, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema up front. Keylor Navas will remain the starting goalkeeper.

This is Real Madrid’s projected XI: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; James Rodriguez, Modric, Kroos, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, Granada will recover youngster Adalberto Penaranda, who is making a big impression in his first season as a professional. The Venezuelan returns from an injury and Jose Ramon Sandoval is expected to include him in the starting lineup.

This is Granada’s predicted XI: Fernandez; Foulquier, Lomban, Babin, Biragui; Rochina, Rico, Perez; Penaranda, Barral, Success.

* Have a look at the related articles for all the latest Real Madrid news.

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Ronaldinho and Neymar
Neymar jokes with Ronaldinho Gaucho during a training session at Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte - VANDERLEI ALMEIDA/AFP/Getty Images

Former Barcelona star Ronaldinho has recommended country-man Neymar to follow his heart regarding the possibility to sign for Real Madrid next summer.

The Brazilian footballer spoke to Spanish radio station Cadena SER and claimed Neymar should do what his heart tells him, even if that means signing for Los Blancos.

“Neymar to Madrid? I just want him to be happy. He is a friend. I would love him to stay at Barca making history, but I’m not going to advice him to stay or to leave; only to follow his heart. In happiness there are no valid advices, because what is good for someone could be bad for others,” Ronaldinho said.

The 35-year-old also had the possibility to sign for Los Merengues in 2003, but he ended up moving to Barcelona. Asked about the similarities between his case and Neymar’s, ‘Dinho’ explained they are different situations: “My brother received many calls, spoke to many people, but thank God I came to Barca.”

Asked about the rivalry between the MSN and the BCC, Ronaldinho claimed “Messi, Suarez and Neymar are the best at the moment.” However, he believes they are not the best forward trio in history: “I played with Giuly, Larsson, Eto’o… If I’m not going to praise them, who will?”

According to the latest rumours, Florentino Perez would be ready to pay Neymar’s 190-million-euro buy-out clause and offer the winger a contract worth 35 million per season.

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