'Clasico win can be turning point for Madrid'

Barcelo, April 3: Real Madrid’s stunning Clasico derby match victory over FC Barcelo could be a “turning point” for their poor La Liga season, according to club mager Zinedine Zidane.

Star striker Cristiano Roldo’s late goal secured a 2-1 win at Barcelo — ending the league leaders’ 39-match unbeaten run. Zidane’s side remain third, seven points adrift of Barcelo and one behind second-placed Atletico Madrid.

“We must go step by step. First we must pass Atletico. Then we’ll see what happens. There are still games to play,” Zidane was quoted as saying by BBC on Saturday.

“This can be a turning point. It is very important, for the rest of season, for our spirit,” he said.

Real, who last won La Liga in 2012, have endured a turbulent season, with Zidane taking charge in January following the dismissal of Rafael Benitez after just seven months in charge.

They have, though, now won six matches in a row in all competitions as they prepare for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-fil first-leg trip to Germany to face VFL Wolfsburg.

“When I see a team that’s united and all together, with everyone fighting for their team-mates and for their coach, there’s nothing better,” Zidane said.

“Coming into the game, we knew that we would have to work hard and be well prepared for it. We put in a good performance, we’ve got the three points and we now need to rest and start thinking about the Wolfsburg game because it’s very important for us as we look to continue what we’ve started,” the Frenchman said.

Barcelo’s defeat was their first in any competition since they lost 1-2 at Sevilla in La Liga on October 3.

They took the lead through Gerard Pique’s header, but Karim Benzema equalised before Roldo struck his 42nd goal of the season with five minutes left. IANS