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Coach Zidane ready for biggest test in Roma return

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane is preparing for his biggest game since taking charge as the Spanish giants eye a place in the Champions League quarter-finals against Roma on Tuesday.

Madrid hold a commanding 2-0 lead from the first leg in the Italian capital three weeks ago, but have little room for error with the Champions League their last realistic hope of a trophy this season after a poor domestic campaign.

“For me it is the most important game because it is the next one,” said Zidane.

“The only thing we have to do is win the game on Tuesday. That is our goal, we need to think solely about Tuesday’s game. “Many people think it is going to be easy and it won’t be.” Indeed, Roma have won their last seven Serie A games since coach Luciano Spalletti’s return to the club in January to propel themselves back up to third. Madrid also sit third in La Liga, 12 points adrift of runaway leaders Barcelona and four behind city rivals Atletico.

However, Zidane’s men did at least bounce back from their derby defeat against Atletico last weekend with a 7-1 thrashing of Celta Vigo on Saturday with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring four.

Ronaldo also opened the scoring in the first leg against Roma to take his tally in the Champions League to 12 in just seven games this season.

Nevertheless, the three-time World Player of the Year was jeered by his own fans early in the second half against Celta before exploding with four goals in 28 minutes.
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