5 greatest matches for Real Madrid under Zinedine Zidane

#3 Atletico Madrid 0-3 Real Madrid (19/11/2016)

Club Atletico de Madrid v Real Madrid CF - La Liga

When Zidane took over for the second half of the 2015-16 season, he had the luxury of being able to commit his focus largely on the Champions League, as Barcelona were already clear in La Liga. In his second season, though, there was a greater onus on him to perform in the top flight.

In delivering Madrid’s first league title since 2011-12, there can be little doubt that he did so in spectacular fashion.

One of the key results that term was a thumping derby success over the team they had beaten in the Champions League final six months earlier.

Diego Simeone’s men were noted for their resolve and in the last city derby to be played at the Vicente Calderon, it was expected that they would come out as aggressive and physical as ever to make a mark on their local rivals.

Real, inspired by the opportunity to open up a four-point gap to Barcelona, who had been earlier held to a scoreless draw in Malaga, had other ideas.

In particular, Ronaldo saw another opportunity to put his name up in lights, bagging his 39th career hat-trick in the process. It was certainly not his most glorious treble – he scored a deflected free kick, a penalty and tap in – but symbolically it was a huge blow, giving Real Madrid breathing space at the top of the standings and effectively ending Atleti’s hopes of a title push before December.