"I'll underline the team's hard work" - Zinedine Zidane hails team spirit after El Clásico draw

Real Madrid scored a late equalizer to take away a point from the Camp Nou.

Sergio Ramos, the captain, rescued Los Blancos in the 90th minute as Barcelona managed to take the lead earlier in the 53rd minute.

It was a hard fought match and Zidane believed that it was not easy to come to Camp Nou and win.

Excerpts from the post match interview -

Speaking to the Real Madrid ​official website, the French legend said: “We have to highlight the spirit shown by this team yet again, the way we worked together and the belief we showed until the end to clinch this important point.

"I don't know whether or not [a draw is] fair, but it's the way it's gone. It's a point, we keep picking them up, and in the first half we had chances to hurt them.

"They scored their goal in the second half, we let up a bit and they grew in confidence. It's a point but it doesn't feel like a win. We can be very happy with how we played against a very tough opponent. Now we have to rest up because we've got another match in no time at all," Zidane continued.

He also emphasized on the fact that the title race is far from over and there is still long way to go.

"We've got a six-point advantage, but that won't change anything. This is a long-run thing and we have to work hard until the end. We're pleased with the point but we know that La Liga will be tough right to the finish.

“We can mix things up and we have a lot of different players who add something new within different tactical systems. That is the good thing about this team and today we saw the importance of each player. We are going to need all of these individuals right up until the end”.

Zidane also heaped praise on the captain and saviour of the match, Sergio Ramos.

"It was a real collective effort. It's not an easy place to come and we were under pressure, but it's difficult for anyone.

"I'll underline the team's hard work. At the end, as always, Ramos is there to score and I'm happy for him, and we've managed to get something thanks to our belief until the final moment.

“It doesn't surprise me anymore. It's the way he is. He's got real personality and you can always count on him in these game. He never lets his head drop and he's motivated until the final minute. It's great for us, Zidane concluded.

Zidane overtook Carlo Ancelotti's record of 32 games unbeaten streak with the draw.

Real Madrid play Borussia Dortmund next at Santiago Bernabeu for the top place finish.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

El Clásico - It ended all square at the Camp Nou

Sergio Ramos cancelled Luis Suarez opener in the dying moments and rescued a point for Real Madrid.

With this draw Real Madrid increased their winning run to 33 games and maintain six points lead over 2nd placed Barcelona.

The match had all the drama. An early penalty shout by Real Madrid denied by the referee, niggling fouls by both the teams, some nervy moments and of course the two headed goals.

As it all happened, both teams dominated either half of the game and in the end the draw was an apt result.

Real Madrid had fair number of chances in the first half and could have gone up but somehow it remained nil nil.

Barcelona took the lead under 10 minutes into the second half through Luis Suarez after Varane fouled Neymar on the left flank, after the goal they had 3-4 chances gone begging and ultimately paid the price, when Luka Modric's delivery found Sergio Ramos header who saved the day for Los Blancos.

Messi has now gone 6 Clásicos without finding the back of the net. He had a chance in this game but he dragged his shot wide. 

Barcelona needed a win to revitalize their dull season, however for Real Madrid it's job done as they would be happy to leave away with a point.

The draw keeps Los Blancos on top of the table and their streak intact.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

12 hours to the biggest game in club football- 12 facts to know

With the biggest game just 12 hours away. Read 12 facts about the El Clásico which every enthusiast should know.

Some records are in the sight for both teams and it will be a treat for football fans all around the world to witness them being broken or created tonight.

Barcelona have lost just three of the last 13 Clásicos they have played at home in all competitions (W7 D3). 

Real Madrid have won five of their last nine games aganst Barça in all competitions (L4), including their last trip to Camp Nou (1-2). 

Zinedine Zidane could become the first Real Madrid manager to enjoy consecutive wins in Clásicos at Camp Nou since Miguel Muñoz in 1965 (four in all competitions). 

Should Barcelona win this game, it would be their 50th victory over Real Madrid at home in La Liga.

No Barcelona manager has ever lost two Clásicos in a row at home. 

Barcelona and Real Madrid have not drawn a game without scoring and conceding in La Liga since November 2002, the worst La Liga season for the Culés in the 21ST century (6th).

Messi has gone five games without scoring against Real Madrid in all competitions, his worst such run in El Clásico. 

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored ten of Real Madrid’s last 16 goals at Camp Nou in all competitions.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored all five Real Madrid goals in his last two league games (one hat-trick and one brace).

Benzema has assisted more goals than any other current Real Madrid player in all competition Clásicos (5), with three of them scored by Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Zidane have gone 25 games in a row without a defeat in La Liga (W22 D3), with his team scoring in all of them (an average of three goals per game).

27 points after the opening 13 league games is the worst start for Barcelona since 2007/08 (also 27), when they finished the season in third place.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com