Osasuna vs Real Madrid - Zidane hopes postponement pays dividends

Posted Saturday, February 11, 2017 by PA

Zinedine Zidane hopes that extra time on the training ground will pay off against Osasuna as he prepares Real Madrid for their first game in almost two weeks.

The current league leaders saw last weekend's LaLiga fixture against Celta Vigo postponed after weather in the region damaged the roof of the Balaidos ground and made it unsafe.

Zidane's side have lost just one league game so far this season, a 2-1 defeat to Sevilla last month, and the Real boss knows his players are looking forward to getting back on the pitch.

"We always want to play. Fifteen days without doing so is a lot for us because the players want to play. We respect the decision and now we're only thinking about what's coming up next," the 44-year-old told the club's official website.

"It was better to play. Training is fine when you are in pre-season but the players love to play.

"We're only thinking about tomorrow's game and doing our best to get the points, as we've done since the start of the season.

"We have a good squad to continue moving forward.

"I would have liked to play this game (against Celta Vigo), as would the players, but the positive thing is that we've been able to work hard.

"Now we need to think of the positives and how we've been able to work on things that we wouldn't have been able to do if we had played every three days."

Osasuna, who are currently bottom of the standings, have the worst defence in the league with 46 goals conceded so far.

Los Rojillos have only won one game in the league so far this season, with their 3-2 defeat to Real Sociedad last weekend taking them to 13 league matches without a victory.

However, manager Petar Vasiljevic says they are hoping to cause an upset against Real Madrid.

"It is an important match and I want us to be together," the Serb told Osasuna's official website.

"They are an important opponent, who is doing very well.

"We know that we play at home and we are going to look for the victory.

"It is true that there is a brutal difference in level of statistics and classification, but we continue working and looking for the victory with a lot of commitment.

"We need that victory."