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Sunday 7. February 2016 - 11:22

Real Madrid gear up for crucial La Liga clash with Granada as boss Zinedine Zidane says game is must-win in title race

Real Madrid players were put through their paces in training on Saturday ahead of the crucial La Liga match against Granada which manager Zinedine Zidane has identified as 'must win' in the race for the title.


Los Blancos are third in the table with 47 points, trailing leaders Barcelona who are on 51 points, having played a game less.


Club legend and former midfielder Zidane took over in the Madrid dugout after Rafa Benitez was sacked last month, and said at his press conference that it was vital that his side did not slip up in the clash with Granada.


He said: "It is a difficult game against a strong opponent. We must begin the game strongly. We must do things differently than against Real Betis (with whom Madrid drew 1-1). "


Zidane added: "We cannot drop more points. Only a win is any good for us."


Since Zidane took over from Benitez, the club have secured three dominant home victories over Deportivo la Coruna (5-0), Sporting Gijon (5-1) and Espanyol (6-0). 


However, the team have won just one of their last five away fixtures and this is something that the Frenchman is keen to change.


He went on: "Against Betis we were not ready and when they score a quick goal against you it is more difficult. With the quality we have we can win the game."


"The key is to use that quality from the first minute. If we begin the game strongly, as we do at the Bernabeu, everything is easier."


While Barca do undeniably hold an advantage in the title race, Zidane refused to rule Madrid out of the running and insisted that he would not focus on the Champions League campaign, until the domestic challenge became mathematically impossible. 


He said: "No, we will go with everything now in La Liga, we have time to prepare for the Champions League. "


"Only a win will do for us. We have faith in the players. They know the situation and know it is difficult as we are behind, but until we are mathematically out of it we will keep battling until the end."


Forward Gareth Bale is not in the Madrid squad at the moment as he continues to recover from a calf injury and Zidane has made it clear that he will not rush the Wales international back before he is fully fit. 


"We have preferred to keep him out for a while," Zidane explained, "'He is better, but not fully recovered, it is better to do things well and go step by step."

 
Provided by: Frank Henriksen
 
 
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