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Zidane: Real Madrid will always be favourites in the Champions League

9 months ago  Raphael   Sport News

Napoli represent a big obstacle to Real Madrid in the Champions League last-16 although Zinedine Zidane believes his side will always be made favourites in the competition.
Wednesday's first leg sees Los Blancos host Maurizio Sarri's team before a trip to the Stadio San Paolo in a fortnight to decide who will pass to the quarter-finals.
"In a double-header, you know that there is a return game and at home the important thing is to stop them scoring an away goal, but I want us to be focused on what we are going to do," Zidane told reporters. "We can do damage to our opponents but they can hurt us too.
"You can win an eliminator but that doesn't mean you're going to win the Champions League, even though we are always favourites.
"It's a long hard road to victory and we are currently on it."
Despite Real's injury crisis clearing up with impeccable timing, their French coach isn't expecting Gareth Bale to make the first leg.
"It's only the first week he's been training with us and he doesn't have any ankle pain, that's the most important thing," added Zidane.
"We'll see when we finalise the squad list but we know that he's been out for three months and we have to take it slowly."
Facing off with Italian opposition, the Real boss then considered his own time in Serie A and how he grew in the environment that Napoli have excelled this season.
"When I went to Italy, I was young but they helped me develop as a footballer," said the 44-year-old. "Because Juventus are like Real Madrid, the most important thing was to play until the last minute.
"I learnt a lot there and I'm now at the biggest club in the world and I'm growing as a coach."