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Zidane gives little away ahead of derby

Xinhua, November 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane was giving little away when he spoke to the press on Friday ahead of Saturday's derby against local rivals, Atletico Madrid in the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

Zidane confirmed that Casemiro had not recovered from his leg injury in time to play in the derby, but was unwilling to say whether striker Karim Benzema would be start in a game that Alvaro Morata and Tony Kroos will also miss through injury.

Real travel across Madrid with a six point lead over their rivals, knowing that a win would put them nine clear after just 12 games, although Zidane was also reminded that his only defeat as Madrid coach came against Saturday's rivals.

"Atletico are improving every year: their coach (Diego Simeone) is very good and he's changed a lot of things since he arrived. They defend well, yes, but they are a lot more than that," said Zidane.

Saturday will be Real's toughest game of the season and they will look to defend their unbeaten start to the campaign after a relatively benign run of rivals in their opening 11 matches.

"We want to keep the unbeaten run going," said Zidane, "Saturday is a derby and a really important match that is good for fans and for football, but even though we are unbeaten we haven't won anything yet this season," he commented. Endit