Saturday 9 January 2016 18:54, UK
Who will make Zinedine Zidane's first Real Madrid XI and what style of play will he adopt? We take a look ahead of his Sky Live managerial debut…
Exciting. Attacking. Beautiful football. They are words which could be used to describe Zidane in his playing days. Instead, they are Zidane's own vision for his team's style.
The World Cup winner became the first Frenchman to manage Real Madrid when he was handed the reins on Monday, following Rafael Benitez's sacking. Just five days later he's facing his first test: Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu, which will be live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.15pm on Saturday.
Real are four points behind leaders Atletico Madrid in La Liga and two adrift of Barcelona, who have a game in hand. After 18 months in charge of Madrid's feeder team Castilla, Zidane has little time to bed-in to his new role.
Here, we look at his potential starting XI this weekend and look at his thoughts on how he expects his key players to perform.
DEFENCE
Zidane had a full strength squad for his final training session with the team on Friday, and set out his first XI with just the one change in defence to the backline Benitez fielded in his final game against Valencia. Dani Carvajal, who has been out with a thigh injury, took Danilo's place at right-back.
Raphael Varane - who has been on the bench for the past two fixtures following his own thigh problem - seems set to be among the substitutes against Deportivo, after Pepe and Sergio Ramos were paired at centre-back.
For all of Zidane's focus on the attacking aspects of Real Madrid's game, he will also need to address their defensive strength. Real have gone five games without a clean sheet in La Liga, while Deportivo have already shown they can shock the big boys this season, battling back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Barcelona at the Nou Camp.
MIDFIELD
It seems there will be one change in Real's midfield, too. Mateo Kovacic formed part of a three-man midfield with Toni Kroos and Luka Modric at the Mestalla but was sent off for a reckless challenge on Joao Cancelo. His suspension will seemingly give Isco a chance to impress his new boss.
The Spaniard was fielded ahead of James Rodriguez in that central role for the team's final practice match.
ATTACK
There are no doubts about who Zidane will field as his front three on Saturday. Asked whether star trio Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema would form his attack, Zidane said: "Yes. I'll play with all three. Clearly that's the idea."
The stats support his policy of playing his biggest-name forwards: Deportivo have faced the joint-fewest number of shots in La Liga this season (175), so first-class finishing will be required, while Ronaldo has scored nine goals - including three hat-tricks - in his past seven league meetings with this opposition.
STYLE
Here's how Zidane hopes his team will play: "I'm going to provide excitement, and we'll commit ourselves in every match for the values of Real Madrid.
"Beautiful football has always been important in this place and I am going to continue with that line. It has to be offensive football, balanced and nothing else."
As for Bale's role in the team, Zidane sees him as a key figure - despite speculation the Welshman had been disappointed to see Benitez sacked.
"I can understand that [Bale] might feel aggrieved by Benitez's departure but I will show him the same affection that he had from Rafa," said Zidane.
"He's a vital player for the team. He is an important player and a key player for the squad. He's phenomenal and we're going to give him all the care and support he needs."
BALAGUE'S VIEW
Rafa felt that both James and Isco deserved to be on the bench for different reasons.
Here's Sky Sports' Spanish football expert Guillem Balague:
"In training on Friday we saw a team with no James but with Isco in the team. That will be interesting. Rafa felt that both James and Isco deserved to be on the bench for different reasons.
"On one hand, Isco didn't behave very well when Real Madrid conceded a second goal against Rayo - he was seen laughing on the bench - and he didn't train very well.
"James is not fit. He is not at his best, he wasn't putting in as much work covering the ball as he was attacking. So there are good enough reasons to challenge the people starting.
"Zidane probably feels he cannot put all of their good players on the pitch, something which he wants to do, and he now finds himself in a position, similar to Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez.
"That idea that Zidane was saying that Real were going to play offensive football is all well and good - of course they are - but are the players going to contain themselves when they need to? It will be interesting to see what he does."
Watch Real Madrid v Deportivo La Coruna live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7.15pm on Saturday
