MX23RW : Tuesday, April 23 07:03:13| >> :120:58734:58734:
[monks data]
Attendance: 23,566
Levante logo
La Liga | Gameweek 25
Feb 22, 2020 at 8pm UK
 
Real Madrid logo

1-0

FT(HT: 0-0)

Zinedine Zidane: 'We must be focused against Levante'

Zinedine Zidane: 'We must be focused against Levante'
© Reuters
Real face Manchester City and Barcelona next week.

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane remains wary of Levante's home form ahead of Saturday's LaLiga clash.

Leaders Real have suffered only one league defeat this season, but sit just a point ahead of bitter rivals Barcelona.

Weekend opponents Levante sit 13th in the table and are not a team in form, having lost five of their last six league fixtures.

However, the club is clearly bolstered by a home crowd and have only lost three league fixtures at the Estadi Ciutat de Valencia this season, as opposed to 10 losses on the road.

"Levante have picked up 20 of their 29 points at home, that shows the type of game it'll be," Zidane said to his club's website.

"It's going to be tough, we'll have to be ready to produce a good performance."

After the Levante assignment Real face their two biggest home games of the season to date, with a Champions League last-16 first leg against Manchester City on Wednesday followed by the second Clasico of the campaign against Barcelona on the Sunday.

Zidane is not allowing himself to be distracted, however, and insists his club's focus is entirely on Levante.

"We work hard every day. From pre-season, we know every day counts," he said.

"The final training session ahead of tomorrow's game is important. We're only thinking about the next match, which is away from home against Levante. That's the only thing on our minds.

"We have to be focused on our efforts day to day, and give 100 per cent. That's the only thing you're able to control and we're going to give it everything we've got out on the pitch. We don't know what's going to happen tomorrow."

Real will be without Gareth Bale and Luka Jovic this weekend, with the forward duo both struggling with gastroenteritis.

Levante boss Paco Lopez is looking to pull off another big win.

His side beat Barcelona 3-1 in November and won 2-1 against Real at the Bernabeu  last season.

Though his squad have struggled recently, Lopez explained that high-profile fixtures motivate rather than daunt his team.

"Real Madrid are a team with very good players and by statistics we know that it is very difficult to beat them, but the possibility exists and as long as there is possibility in football we will try," Lopez said at a pre-match press conference covered by AS.

"Levante is characterised by being not very conservative. We will try to make things difficult for Real Madrid.

"It is very difficult against Madrid, but they also have some weak points and we will try to attack them.

"We all like to win every game and as we know it is so difficult. We won at Barca, last season we won at the Bernabeu and we have one more motivation.

"But we are aware that historically it is very difficult to win these games and there are many coaches who have not been able to beat them."

ID:390436: cacheID:390436:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7821:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Manchester City's Raheem Sterling after suffering injury in the Premier League on February 2, 2020.
Read Next:
Sterling "really happy" at City but does not rule out future move to Madrid
>
Read more about Zinedine Zidane Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid32256170224881
2Barcelona32217464372770
3GironaGirona32215667402768
4Atletico MadridAtletico32194959382161
5Athletic Bilbao321610652302258
6Real Sociedad321312746341251
7Real BetisBetis32121284038248
8Valencia32138113534147
9Villarreal32119125155-442
10Getafe32913103844-640
11Osasuna32116153746-939
12Sevilla32910134145-437
13Las PalmasLas Palmas32107153039-937
14AlavesAlaves3298152838-1035
15Rayo Vallecano32713122739-1234
16Celta Vigo32710153747-1031
17Mallorca32613132638-1231
18CadizCadiz32413152245-2325
19Granada3239203361-2818
20Almeria32111203164-3314


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!