Croatia
Indonesia
Nigeria
South Africa

Zinedine Zidane hails "spectacular" first half in

sportsmole.co.uk, 3 April 2021, 18:37

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane felt his side limbered up for a crucial week in fine fashion with a 2-0 win over Eibar.

Goals from Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema in each half wrapped up a routine victory.

Real have climbed above Barcelona into second in LaLiga and lie three points behind leaders Atletico Madrid.

Next up is a blockbuster Champions League quarter-final against Liverpool before next Saturday's clash with Barca.

"We made changes today and the team has not suffered in the sense that we have gone from the first minute for the game," said Zidane, according to El Correo.

"The first part was spectacular, complete. In defence we have barely conceded chances and I especially liked our game with the ball.

"We have to continue like this. The second part was a bit different, also because of a storm. We had about 20 complicated minutes to score the second goal.

"Now we have an important week, with a Champions League game and then a very entertaining league game. We have had difficult moments in the season and now we have to take advantage of this (period) that is good."

Asensio made the breakthrough four minutes before half-time, taking Casemiro 's pass and slotting home from the 18-yard line.

Real doubled their lead in the 73rd minute when Vinicius Junior crossed for Benzema to head home his ninth goal in his last seven appearances.

Top News

21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa handed Manchester City a 2-1 defeat on Saturday, adding to the woes of Pep Guardiola's side, who have now endured nine losses in their last 12 matches. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has claimed that his side decided to defeat Manchester City "through domination" on Saturday afternoon. 21 December 2024 talksport.com "This is a crisis." 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid will be bidding to return to winning ways in La Liga when they welcome Sevilla to Bernabeu on Sunday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have added Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk to their wishlist for the summer transfer window, according to a report. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be without the services of Hector Fort for Saturday's La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid, with the defender ruled out of the contest due to a hamstring problem. 21 December 2024 talksport.com It was the nightmare before Christmas for new Coventry City manager Frank Lampard. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's horror run of form continued on Saturday afternoon, with Pep Guardiola's side beaten 2-1 by Aston Villa in the Premier League. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton and Chelsea lock horns in a vital clash with implications at both the top and the bottom of the Premier League on Sunday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Seeking to replicate their astounding 3-0 win at Old Trafford from the 2023-24 season, Bournemouth head north to face Manchester United in Sunday's Premier League contest. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitor Pereira will take charge of his firsr game as manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers when they travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City in the Premier League on Sunday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has suggested that a decision on the club's alleged financial misconduct charges could be announced as early as February. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi has admitted he had to be "selfish" in his decision to reject Liverpool in the summer transfer window. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by 10 places in the Primeira Liga table before gameweek 15, second-placed Benfica are clear favourites to outdo Estoril Praia at Estadio da Luz on Monday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Manchester City have reportedly sent offers to sign Barcelona attacker Dani Olmo in the January transfer window. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal and Manchester City have reportedly sent offers to sign Barcelona attacker Dani Olmo in the January transfer window. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City attacker Oscar Bobb has revealed he plans to return to action in January. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa and Manchester City have announced their starting lineups for Saturday's Premier League game. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to keep pressure on several teams trying to dethrone them as Serie A champions, Inter Milan will welcome Como to San Siro on Monday. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou should not walk away from the Lilywhites even if some fans pledge temporary loyalty to Liverpool this weekend, ex-Spurs goalkeeper Kasey Keller has said. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus are reportedly prepared to sell Kenan Yildiz during the January transfer window, with the club looking to fund a mid-season deal for Newcastle United midfielder Sandro Tonali. 21 December 2024 talksport.com England World Cup winner George Eastham has died, aged 88. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly willing to let Marcus Rashford leave on loan during the January transfer window, but the Red Devils will refuse to let him move to another Premier League club. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk After their incredible success streak was finally brought to an end last week, Fiorentina will aim to start another winning run on Monday, when they meet Udinese. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk George Eastham, a member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning squad, has died at the age of 88, his former club Stoke City have announced. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Diego Leon "has signed all documents" to become a Manchester United player next summer. 21 December 2024 talksport.com Cole Palmer would struggle to stop players from copying his celebration, it has been revealed. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol Rovers vs. Wrexham (Saturday, 12.30pm) Relegation-threatened Bristol Rovers will begin life without manager Matt Taylor on Saturday when they host high-flying Wrexham in a League One clash at Memorial Stadium. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The January transfer window is almost here and clubs around the UK and Europe are lining up moves as they look to take advantage of the opportunity to strengthen. 21 December 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sivasspor vs. Samsunspor (Saturday, 1.00pm) Sivasspor will aim to end a wretched run of results in the Turkish Super Lig when they host a Samsunspor side that have also faltered lately, in Saturday's gameweek 17 clash at New Sivas 4 Eylul Stadium.