Gist Coven

Time for Zidane to choose a third way? "Real Madrid's players needed a match like that" As criticism has rained down on Real Madrid from all sides, Zinedine Zidane has elected to defend his players for months; perhaps Sunday's 7-1 victory against Deportivo La Coruna has proven the French coach right all along. With Barcelona so far ahead in LaLiga it's obvious that defending their domestic crown is an impossible task for the Madrid club, however the victory against the Galicians has proven just what the team is capable of when most of their big players are available. Gareth Bale has missed much of the campaign, since Christmas he has been able to build his fitness gradually and now is capable of playing successive matches; his brace on Sunday highlighted just what he can do when healthy and confidence. Zidane has been criticised from his approach to the transfer market, all January long he has repeated his belief that the club don't need to sign ...

Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, has been left fighting for his job in the second half of the LaLiga season, after his team were shocked 1-0 at home by Villarreal on Saturday. If their rivals and table toppers Barcelona beat Real Sociedad on Sunday, they could open a 19-point gap, although Zidane’s men have one outstanding game. There is also no guarantee that the champions will finish in the top four either as things stand, given Villarreal are now just one point behind them in fifth. Zidane’s side have now failed to beat Valencia, Levante, Betis, Tottenham, Fuenlabrada, Barcelona and Numancia at home this campaign. Despite winning back-to-back Champions League trophies and a first league title since 2012, Zidane could still be sacked by the notoriously impatient president, Florentino Perez. Already, names like Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho, have been linked with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu. Zidane will be looking to put Real’s campaign back on track this...

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedly identified Chelsea as his preferred option in the Premier League should he leave Los Blancos at the end of the season. Speculation continues to rage over the future of the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, who is understood to be unhappy in the Spanish capital due to Madrid’s struggles on the field this season as well as matters off the pitch. Ronaldo was accused of tax evasion by Spanish authorities last year and reportedly asked to leave the club in the summer, with Manchester United heavily linked with a move to bring the Portuguese back to Old Trafford at that stage. Ronaldo spent six years at United before joining Madrid and would reunite with former Madrid boss and fellow countryman Jose Mourinho if he returned to the club. However, Spanish publication Don Balon reports that Chelsea have surprisingly emerged as the 32-year-old’s preferred destination.  Ronaldo is understood to be keen on the idea of a switch back...

Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score in all six Champions League group-stage matches in a season on Wednesday with a first-half strike for Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund. The 32-year-old’s effort that flew into the top corner also drew the Portuguese forward level with his Barcelona rival Lionel Messi on 60 group-stage goals in total. It was his ninth this season. Real, bidding for a third straight Champions League title, led Dortmund 2-1 at half-time, but are already guaranteed to qualify for the last 16 from Group H as runners-up to Tottenham Hotspur.

Cristiano Ronaldo has advised the leadership of the Spanish football club, Real Madrid to strengthen the squad to boost its chances of success. Real Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, has reportedly given the club a shortlist of three players they must bring in next year. Madrid are eight points off Barcelona, who currently occupy top spot in La Liga. Ronaldo has eight goals in five games in Europe, but has managed to net only twice in nine league matches, as the champions struggle to impress on the domestic front. The Portugal captain has also been outspoken on the club’s decision to allow experienced backup players like Pepe, Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez to depart in the summer. Diario Gol reports that Ronaldo has appealed to president Florentino Perez to strengthen the squad. The 32-year-old would like to see Portuguese youngster Goncalo Guedes, PSG defender Marquinhos and a new goalkeeper arrive – with Athletic Bilbao’s Kepa the No.1 target.

Brazilian footballer, Robinho, has reportedly been sentenced to nine years in prison after being found guilty of s*xual assault. Reports in Italy claim that the former Manchester City and Real Madrid star, along with five others, was implicated in an attack on an Albanian girl in a Milan nightclub in January 2013. The incident, which the player has repeatedly denied his involvement in, occurred when the 33-year-old was at AC Milan following his departure from the Etihad in 2010, Sportsmail reported. Robinho’s agent and lawyer, Marisa Alija Ramos, told Sportsmail: ‘With regards to the allegations surrounding Robinho, the alleged incident took place several years ago. ‘I clarify that my client has already defended himself against the charges and maintains he played no part in the incident. ‘All legal steps are already being taken in response to this decision.’ According to Marisa, the skillful striker who currently plays for Atlético Mineiro in Brazil, pleaded not guilty a...

Real Madrid manager, Zinedine Zidane, has reacted to a reported rift going on between the team captain, Sergio Ramos and star forward, Cristiano Ronaldo. Zidane spoke ahead of the Champions League match between Real Madrid and Apoel Nicosia on Tuesday. Reports have emerged that the veteran defender and his teammate Ronaldo are having a sort of dressing room burst up. Responding to questions from the press on the matter, Zidane said, “You are wrong because Sergio Ramos is a very clever footballer. “They came both [Ramos and Ronaldo} come out to say what they want. They are both clever people. I’m not too sure how long they’ve been together or how many years. “And they have won many things together, many titles. Everyone once in a while can think one thing and anybody can think something completely different. “That is not a problem. The most important thing is that we talk and sought things out. And if there’s anything that needs to be sorted out, we will. But there are de...