Zidane: Cool heads needed to defeat Wolfsburg
Monday, April 11, 2016
Article summary
Zinédine Zidane cited patience as being key if Real Madrid are to overturn their 2-0 deficit against Wolfsburg, saying: "We are not going to win it in [the first] ten or 15 minutes."
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Article body
- Real Madrid host Wolfsburg trailing 2-0 from last week's quarter-final first leg
- Madrid have scored 17 goals and conceded just one in their last four home games
- Wolfsburg are in the knockout stage of this competition for the first time
- The first-leg win is Wolfsburg's only victory in their past five matches
Possible lineup
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Modrić, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Out: none
Doubtful: none
Misses next match if booked: Casemiro, Danilo, Sergio Ramos
Wolfsburg: Benaglio; Vieirinha, Naldo, Dante; Rodriguez; Guilavogui, Gustavo; Henrique, Arnold, Draxler; Schürrle.
Out: Jung (knee)
Doubtful: Caligiuri (groin)
Misses next match if booked: Arnold, Benaglio, Caligiuri, Vieirinha, Luiz Gustavo
Zinédine Zidane, Madrid coach
This is a big match, but you need a cool head to play in it. We are not going to win it in [the first] ten or 15 minutes. It could be more difficult if they score, but that can happen. We must be focused from minute one. We have to score, but we have 90 minutes to do so. We need to be patient.
People want to see their team play well and I'm sure we are going to do that tomorrow. The first-leg result makes it more complicated, but also more exciting. We love our fans because we know how important they are, especially in our stadium. We want them to support us from minute one until the end.
Dieter Hecking, Wolfsburg coach
We knew we would need two magnificent days to advance in the competition – now we just need one. I think we can do our bit. Real Madrid have to use their legend to beat us at their stadium; they'll have to work very hard. We know what Real Madrid stand for but we also deserve some respect after the first leg.
We don't care that there will be 80,000 fans supporting Real Madrid; we're here to play football. We surprised them in the first leg but this time it will be more difficult. Madrid will try to score as soon as possible. Maybe Zidane will surprise me this time.
Weekend results
Real Madrid 4-0 Eibar (James Rodríguez 5, Lucas Vázquez 18, Ronaldo 19, Jesé 39)
Madrid rallied following their midweek loss, recording a sixth successive Liga win. James Rodríguez converted direct from a free-kick and Cristiano Ronaldo set up Lucas Vázquez for the second, before scoring himself a minute later – his 30th in the Liga this season. Ronaldo was the provider for Madrid's fourth too, Jesé Rodríguez meeting the Portugal forward's pass at the far post after Lucas had wrong-footed the defence.
Wolfsburg 1-1 Mainz (Schürrle 53; Samperio 66)
Wolfsburg are winless in four Bundesliga games after following up their 2-0 UEFA Champions League triumph over the Merengues with a 1-1 draw against Mainz. The better side in the first half, the Wolves went ahead after the break, André Schürrle chipping the goalkeeper following good work from Bruno Henrique. However, a Jairo Samperio equaliser – and Dante's late dismissal – ensured another day of Bundesliga frustration.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Madrid: WLWWWW
Wolfsburg: DWLDLW
Reporter's view: Joseph Walker (@UEFAcomJosephW)
Zidane appears to be in relaxed mood going into this quarter-final second leg, which promises to be a cracker. Madrid will need to do something they have not done in 29 years if they are to oust a Wolfsburg side that shocked Europe with their 2-0 victory last week. Hecking will send his team out to frustrate and hit Madrid on the counterattack. However, playing at the Bernabéu in front of a raucous crowd, the Merengues will still fancy their chances.
Did you know
Madrid have overturned a first-leg away defeat 22 times, failing on a further 16 occasions, including the last five – most recently against Juventus in last season's semi-finals. Find out more in our extensive match background.