logo
  • Home
  • National
  • Sylhet
    • Moulvibazar
    • Sunamganj
    • Habiganj
  • NRB News
  • UK News
  • International
  • Sports
  • Tourism
  • Entertainment
  • Business
    • Technology
    • Featured
    • Opinion
    • Health
    • Life Style
    • Photo Gallery
    • Sylhet Mirror Team
  • Home
  • National
  • International
  • UK News
  • NRB News
  • Sylhet
  • Sunamganj
  • Moulvibazar
  • Habiganj
  • Business
  • Featured
  • Health
  • Life Style
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment
  • Photo Gallery
  • Sports
  • SUST
  • Technology
  • Tourism
  • Sylhet Mirror Team
  • Contact us
  1. Home
  2. Sports
  3. With old guard back, Real Madrid wins on Zidane’s return

With old guard back, Real Madrid wins on Zidane’s return


Published: 17 March 2019, 1:40:31

With old guard back, Real Madrid wins on Zidane's return

Photo: Real Madrid’s Sergio Ramos sheds the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Celta at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, March 16, 2019.

Madrid, Mar 17 : It was like old times at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Zinedine Zidane was back on the bench, and Real Madrid was winning again.

The demanding Madrid crowd could finally rejoice on Saturday as Zidane brought the old guard back and began his second stint as coach with a 2-0 win against relegation-threatened Celta Vigo in the Spanish league.

Francisco “Isco” Alarcon, who had been sidelined by former coach Santiago Solari, and Gareth Bale, a reserve before Zidane’s return, scored to help Madrid end its four-game losing streak at home and recover some pride.

Marco Asensio, another player who had few chances under Solari, set up Isco’s goal while goalkeeper Keylor Navas, back in the starting lineup, made key saves for Madrid.

Zidane’s revamped starting lineup also included Marcelo, another player who had succeeded under the French coach but did not play often with Solari.

“Nobody can erase what these players have done for this club in the past,” Zidane said. “I’ll count on the entire squad, but we know how good Keylor is. I don’t even have to talk about Marcelo, and it’s the same when it comes to Isco. They are all very good players. They have shown it in the past and I will keep counting on them.”

The win moved Madrid within two points of second-place Atletico Madrid, which saw its title chances take a hit after a 2-0 loss at Athletic Bilbao.

Barcelona can open a 10-point lead over Diego Simeone’s team if it wins at Real Betis on Sunday.

Zidane received an ovation from the crowd when his name was announced before the match, and there was an upbeat atmosphere again following demoralizing home losses.

Madrid lost to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish league, and to Ajax in the round of 16 in the Champions League — results that virtually ended the team’s hopes of winning a trophy this season. It had also lost at home to Girona in the league.

“It’s a new beginning,” right back Alvaro Odriozola said. “We are all motivated again.”

Isco netted from close range in the 62nd minute after Asensio fed Karim Benzema inside the area and the French striker set up the scorer in front of goal. Isco was cheered by the crowd when he was substituted a few moments after the goal, his first of the year.

Bale sealed victory with a shot from inside the area in the 77th.

Zidane led Madrid to nine titles in his first stint, including three straight in the Champions League, but quit at the end of last season, saying the club needed a change.He was rehired on Monday to replace Solari, who wasn’t able to keep the team on track in its first season without Cristiano Ronaldo.

“I always feel at home here,” Zidane said. “There’s a great atmosphere and all I’m thinking about is finishing the season on a high.”

Celta, which needed points to have a chance of escaping the relegation zone, has lost 10 of its last 12 matches in all competitions. It is 18th in the 20-team standings with 25 points from 28 matches.

Benzema had a goal disallowed just before halftime because of a foul by Bale, while Luka Modric’s goal in the second half was disallowed on video review because Madrid defender Raphael Varane was offside.

Atletico stalls

Atletico Madrid followed its midweek elimination by Juventus in the Champions League by losing 2-0 at Athletic Bilbao.

Inaki Williams put the hosts ahead in the 73rd and Kenan Kodro netted in the 85th to move Athletic up to ninth.

Atletico’s loss came despite a lineup that included the attacking trio of Antoine Griezmann, Diego Costa and Alvaro Morata. It had won five in a row before losing 3-0 to Juventus on Tuesday to squander its 2-0 advantage from the first leg in the round of 16.

“We missed a chance to move closer to Barcelona, but it was going to be hard after our poor performance in Turin,” Simeone said.

Alaves keeps fighting

Alaves moved closer to the final Champions League spot with a 3-1 win at last-place Huesca, moving within a point of fourth-place Getafe, which visits Valencia on Sunday.

Argentine striker Jonathan Calleri scored twice and Swedish forward John Guidetti added another for Alaves, which is unbeaten in six games.

Also Saturday, forward Portu scored two first-half goals to lead Girona to a 2-0 win at Leganes.

Sports
Bangladesh face off SL in 1st Test in new WTC cycle

Bangladesh face off SL in 1st Test in new WTC cycle

Messi denied late as Inter Miami, Al Ahly play out scoreless draw in Club World Cup opener

Messi denied late as Inter Miami, Al Ahly play out scoreless draw in Club World Cup opener

Brazil tops player representation in FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Brazil tops player representation in FIFA Club World Cup 2025

New era dawns with 32-team FIFA Club World Cup

New era dawns with 32-team FIFA Club World Cup

Latest News
Tk 2,000cr laundering: Ex-UK envoy Muna under ACC probe
Tk 2,000cr laundering: Ex-UK envoy Muna under ACC probe
College student raped inside running bus in Habiganj, driver detained
College student raped inside running bus in Habiganj, driver detained
ICT orders newspaper notices summoning Hasina, Asaduzzaman
ICT orders newspaper notices summoning Hasina, Asaduzzaman
Benefits reform must be pushed through, says PM Sir Keir Starmer
Benefits reform must be pushed through, says PM Sir Keir Starmer
MI6 appoints first female chief in 116-year history
MI6 appoints first female chief in 116-year history
UK’s largest road tunnel project awarded £590m
UK’s largest road tunnel project awarded £590m
‘It makes you very close to people very quickly’: The influential style guru behind the stars’ red-carpet looks
‘It makes you very close to people very quickly’: The influential style guru behind the stars’ red-carpet looks
Mood swings fuelled Heston Blumenthal’s genius. But the highs got higher and the lows got darker
Mood swings fuelled Heston Blumenthal’s genius. But the highs got higher and the lows got darker
Bangladesh face off SL in 1st Test in new WTC cycle
Bangladesh face off SL in 1st Test in new WTC cycle
UN delegation lauds Bangladesh’s steps on enforced disappearances
UN delegation lauds Bangladesh’s steps on enforced disappearances
Biman offers ‘special fares’ for migrant workers
Biman offers ‘special fares’ for migrant workers
23,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims return home after Hajj
23,000 Bangladeshi pilgrims return home after Hajj
Man killed in Sylhet road crash
Man killed in Sylhet road crash
5 killed, 92 injured in Iran’s missile strikes on Israel
5 killed, 92 injured in Iran’s missile strikes on Israel
Sonia Gandhi hospitalised
Sonia Gandhi hospitalised


© 2023 Sylhetmirror.com All Rights Reserved

Editor : Mohammed Abdul Karim (Goni)
Executive Editor : Enamul Haque Renu

Sylhet Mirror Team

Office: Unit 2, 60 Hanbury Street London E1 5JL Email : sylhetmirror@gmail.com

Developed by: Web Design & IT Company in Bangladesh

Go to top