Madrid (AFP)

Nothing has changed in the La Liga title race, Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday, even if FC Barcelona gave Real Madrid the chance to take the lead if they won against Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Barça drew 0-0 in Sevilla on Friday, which means that if Real Madrid win at Anoeta this weekend, it will gain the upper hand over Barcelona thanks to a better goal difference.

"Nothing changes," Zidane said at a press conference on Saturday. "People can say one thing or another, but what interests me is tomorrow's game (Sunday). I have my own opinions but I will not express them because something can happen and its opposite. "

"Everyone can give their opinion but we are thinking about the next match. This is what motivates us and nothing else," he added.

After the misstep of his team, Gérard Piqué for his part admitted that it would be "very difficult to win this championship" because Real Madrid could not lose other points during the final period of the championship.

- Benzema "gives so much" -

Since the end of the three-month suspension due to the Covid 19 pandemic, Madrid have beaten Eibar and Valencia and Karim Benzema has continued his excellent season, bringing his total to 21 goals in 38 games.

Benzema scored twice against Valencia and made an impression on his second goal, a control followed by a magnificent volley into the skylight. "I don't think much has changed with Karim, maybe just his age and experience," said the Real coach.

"He has been here for many years now and for me he is the same player, but he knows that there is always room for improvement and that is what he is doing," he added. . "He takes care of himself and has a lot of ambition. People are always interested in his number of goals, and if he does not score, everything is bad. But that's not how I see it .

"He gives us so many things and if he scores goals, so much the better, but a number nine who only scores and who is not interested in the game does not interest me. Karim does both", according to the world champion 98.

Marco Asensio also had a special evening against Valencia, as he scored on his first ball for his first appearance in a year after an injury to the anterior cruciate ligament.

"I'm happy with what happened, but he has to go step by step," said Zidane. "We have time, we don't think he has to play every game. No, we have to stay calm. After a serious injury, we have to go slowly and that's what we do with him."

© 2020 AFP