Zinedine Zidane will start his Real Madrid managerial career when his side plays host to Deportivo La Coruna at the Santiago Bernabeu. Previous manager Rafa Benitez was sacked after Los Blancos drew 2-2 away at Valencia. Zidane will look to start over; expecting a big performance from his star studded team. Madrid are third in the table, four points adrift of leaders Atletico Madrid and two behind fierce rivals Barcelona.
Deportivo come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw against Mirandes in the Copa del Rey. The visitors are seventh in the table with 27 points – 10 points behind their hosts on Saturday.
Here is everything you need to know about Zizou’s first match in-charge of Real:
Kickoff and Live Telecast
Channel: Sony SIX, Sony KIX.
Date and Time: Saturday, 9 January 2016 – 19:30 GMT ( Sunday, 10 January – 01:00 IST)
Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid.
Team News
Real Madrid trained with their full 23-man squad on Friday, which means that all players are available for selection against Deportivo except for the suspended Mateo Kovacic, who saw red against Valencia. Defender Dani Carvajal could feature after finally making a full recovery from a thigh injury while Zidane must assess the fitness of Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos. Should the latter not be fit, the Frenchman has a straight choice between Pepe and Raphael Varane to play in central defence.
Deportivo La Coruna will be without midfielders Celso Borges and Cani who are both injured and will miss the trip to the capital. Whereas, Fabri is also out injured. They will line up with Lucas Perez as the lone striker. Manager Victor Sanchez has said that his side has no permanent objective as they want to obtain safety as soon as possible. The statement might not be encouraging for his players, but Deportivo line-up to defend, and it will be tested against Real.
Probable lineups
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Rodriguez, Kroos, Modric; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Deportivo La Coruna (4-2-3-1): Lux; Laure, Arribas, Sidnei, Navarro; Bergantinos, Mosquera; Juanfran, Fajr, Luisinho; Perez.
Form
Real Madrid have endured a miserable season in the La Liga so far according to their standards. The 2-2 draw against Valencia last matchday saw the end of Rafa Benitez as the manager. Real's president Florentino Pérez decided to give Zinedine Zidane a chance to manage his team, and the air surrounding the club is full of anticipation and optimism. The All Whites have endured a dodgy last five games, as they have won only three, having drawn one and lost one. Despite the impressive 10-2 victory over Rayo Vallecano, Real Madrid’s setback last weekend at Valencia has caused their fans to doubt whether their club will win anything this term.
They are not struggling for goals, but the defence is where the problem lies. Ronaldo has led his side to score a league-high 47 goals in 18 games, but they have conceded 18 goals. Having Ramos and Carvajal back in the side should help the hosts.
Last 5 games: W-L-W-W-D (Last match: Valencia 2-2 Real Madrid)
Deportivo La Coruna’s recent form has been disappointing. Their recent form may not worry the hosts much but the visitors are capable of springing a suprise against Real Madrid and it is definitely the best time to grab some points from the Santiago Bernabéu.
At 7th in the table, Deportivo are a credible side and must get more points on the board desperately as teams around them are getting points on board. The 1-2 loss against Villareal has made their recent form look bad, but they are the same team who came from behind to draw 2-2 at Barcelona. It is clear that something has to change at the club and the players need to get some confidence back. Deportivo have so far amassed 28 goals and shipped 18 at the back. It would definitely be a suprise for all if they can hold Real Madrid to a draw given the attacking flair in their hosts’ team.
Last 5 games: D-W-D-L-D (Last match: Mirandes 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna)
Key Stats
- Real Madrid are on an 8-game unbeaten streak against Deportivo in La Liga.
- Los Blancos have scored 21 goals in their last three home games in all competitions.
- Deportivo have lost only once in their 6 away games in La Liga.
- Deportivo have won only once at the Santiago Bernabeu in La Liga in the last 30 games, which was in the 2004/05 La Liga campaign (0-1). They have lost the other 25 games and drawn 4.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 9 goals in his last 8 appearances against Deportivo in La Liga.
Key Battles
Karim Benzema vs Alejandro Arribas
With 16 goals and an assist in the 17 La Liga games he has featured in, Karim Benzema has again been the subject of the transfer rumors. And Victor Sanchez’s side will be wary of the threat Benzema brings. The Frenchman has not been at his prime best but as the striker he has helped his side by scoring regularly. Alejandro Arribas will be assigned the job of controlling the forward. The Deportivo defender will have the chance to prove his defending skills against one of the best attackers in the world. But the French striker will be adamant to carry Real to a convincing win to lighten the mood at the Bernabeu. His presence up front is enough to create doubts in the minds of his opposition.
Lucas Perez vs Sergio Ramos
Deportivo La Coruna striker Lucas Perez has scored 14 goals for his side in the 20 games he has played in all competitions. He also has 4 assists to his name. But he will be up against one of the best defenders in the world when he takes the field against Madrid. Perez will be expected to create some opportunities for the not-to-shining visitors. This task could well be tough for him as he will be up against an experienced defender in Sergio Ramos. The Real skipper has had a faily topsy-turvy season so far, staying on the sidelines for most part. But he has returned from injury now and Zidane can count on him to deliver when the team needs him.
Prediction
The odds are very much in Real Madrid's favor, but they are struggling at the moment and so Deportivo have a little chance of springing a surprise. But Real will be spurred on by the fact they were held on to a draw by Valencia. Hence, we can expect goals aplenty from the home team with the BBC leading the charge. Real can be expected to get a definite three points from this game at home. A happy start for Zinedine Zidane at his beloved club is predicted.
Predicted score: Real Madrid 3-0 Deportivo La Coruna
Betting odds (bet365)
Real Madrid – 1/9
Draw – 8/1
Deportivo La Coruna – 20/1
