Champions League could define Zinedine Zidane's second spell as Real Madrid coach – just as it did first time around

Four in a row? | Zidane won the Champions League title in each of his previous three seasons as Real Madrid boss
AFP/Getty Images/Genya Savilov
Ben Hayward29 August 2019

Zinedine Zidane's remarkable record in the Champions League as Real Madrid coach will be put to the test in 2019-20.

The Frenchman led Los Blancos to three successive European titles in just two-and-a-half seasons between 2016 and 2018. As Madrid boss, he has never not won it.

When Zidane marched off into the sunset after sealing the 'three-peat' in Kiev, stepping down just days later, it seemed clear he knew it was the time to walk away.

Indeed, he was followed out of the exit door by Cristiano Ronaldo, while there was no real replacement for the Portuguese superstar and without those two, the team toiled in 2018-19.

So it was a big surprise when Zidane opted to return in March, following the dismissals of Julen Lopetegui and later Santiago Solari as Madrid saw their hopes of a major trophy evaporate in the space of a week in late February and early March.

Madrid's season start was promising enough. A 3-1 win away to Celta Vigo brought praise and largely positive feedback, yet it was in the balance until a wonder goal from Toni Kroos and Real also saw a marginal offside call go their way at 1-0 up.

A 1-1 draw at home to Valladolid followed last weekend and that game featured familiar failings. Real's best performances tend to come on the road and at the Bernabeu, a problem persists. Improving against well-drilled, deep-lying defences at their famous – and occasionally hostile – home will be one of the keys to success this term.

Zidane's first two line-ups in 2019-20 have included no new players and the big rebuilding projected has not quite materialised. There was a flurry of signings in June, with around €300 million spent in total, but only Eden Hazard is a guaranteed starter of the new recruits and he is injured at the moment.

Meanwhile, there is no sign of Paul Pogba, or any new midfielder for that matter. And strengthening that sector had looked like the top priority for this summer. With the transfer window to close on Monday, time is running out.

In Pictures | Real Madrid vs Real Valladolid

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Without one, it is difficult to see how Real will overcome the deficiencies from last season, when they were destroyed by Ajax in a 4-1 loss to the Dutch side which saw them crash out in the last 16 of the Champions League.

A similar outcome would not be considered acceptable this time around and Zidane will be well aware of that. Yet he has picked the same players so far this term and with no new midfielder added, fans are concerned that this season will be another wash out.

Madrid's squad is not as strong as Barcelona's and may also be weaker than Atletico's, while the alarming results in pre-season have left little room for optimism. In La Liga, it will be hard for Zidane's side to compete with those two over a long season.

But in the Champions League, Real remain dangerous and this squad has shown in the past that they can raise their game on the biggest nights when it matters most.

Without Ronaldo, though, Zidane will have to find another way to win and he is putting his neck firmly on the line after walking away with three European Cups under his arm just 15 months ago.

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