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Zidane: Clasico not decisive

Xinhua, April 22, 2017 Adjust font size:

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane wanted to avoid seeing his side classed as favorites ahead of Sunday's 'Clasico' at home to FC Barcelona.

A win for Madrid in the biggest domestic club game in the world would all but assure them being crowned as Liga Santander Champions for this season and Zidane's team certainly look to be in better form that Barcelona, who were knocked out of the Champions League by Juventus on Wednesday.

However, speaking to the press on Saturday, the Madrid boss was anxious to avoid putting extra pressure on his side to perform.

"There are no favorites, because it is a game in which you have to play, to fight and to work... We are not favorites; people might think that, but neither side is more favorite than the other," he said.

Zidane also said that even if his side won (which would put them 6 points clear of Barca with a game in hand and just five left to play) it would not assure the title.

"I don't think it will be decisive, whatever happens. We have six finals to play and the first of them is tomorrow. From here to the end of the season, we will take it one game at a time. All of the games are decisive," he insisted.

Zidane also confirmed that Gareth Bale would be in the Madrid squad, but refused to say whether or not he would start on Sunday.

"You will find out tomorrow," he said.

Barca coach, Luis Enrique was asked about Neymar, who is suspended for the game, but who could still play as Barca have appealed to the Spanish Court of Sporting Arbitration.

"We are prepared to play with Neymar in the side and without him," said the man who will be stepping down as Barca coach at the end of the current campaign.

Unlike Zidane, Luis Enrique admitted the game's importance to his side. "It is the last chance we have and the result could sentence the league," he admitted.

"We are playing against the leader and our main rival. We have to be effective in what we do and not allow Real Madrid to show their class."

"What we have to do is go out to win,... We have quality players who have recovered (after midweek). It would not be good to lose our options of winning the title, but this is sport and we have to understand that," commented Luis Enrique. Enditem