League Not Lost Despite Nine-Point Barca Lead – Zidane

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane refused to rule his side out of the La Liga title race despite slipping nine points behind Barcelona with a 1-1 draw at Malaga on Sunday.

Madrid were left to rue Cristiano Ronaldo’s missed penalty before the break as Raul Albentosa cancelled out Ronaldo’s opener.

“It is obviously going to be difficult because we have dropped two points, but we won’t give up,” said Zidane.

“There are 39 points still to play for. You think the league is lost, but the players and myself don’t believe that.”

Real need a significant collapse from Barca — who haven’t lost in 32 matches in all competitions — in the final 13 games of the league season to prevent the Catalans claiming a sixth title in eight years.

“There are plenty of points up for grabs and the others can lose too,” added Zidane.

“I am not thinking of the others, though, but in continuing to work towards our objectives no matter what happens.”

It is the second time this season that Malaga have frustrated Real after a 0-0 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu back in September.

However, despite Carlos Kameni making a fine save from Ronaldo’s penalty after the three-time World Player of the Year had headed home the opener, Malaga were more than worthy of a point.

Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas also made a series of great saves, most notably when he prevented Nacho firing into his own net early in the second-half.

And Zidane admitted the visitors could even have lost the game in the final stages.

“I don’t think we didn’t play well. We had problems with second balls, but we could have killed the game before.

“In the end we could even have lost, so maybe we have even won a point.”

However, left-back Marcelo struck a more realistic tone after Real failed to win away from home in La Liga for the fourth time in five games.

“It is even more difficult to win La Liga after today, but we need to keep going and keep fighting.

“We knew it would be difficult because Malaga are a great team.

“We made a few mistakes, but we will never give up.”

– AFP