Madrid (AFP)

Real Madrid struggled to beat Huesca on Saturday (2-1), after falling 1-0, thanks to a brace from central defender Raphaël Varane on Matchday 22 of the Spanish Championship, and achieved the goal set by his trainer Zinédine Zidane.

"I will not let go, as a coach" and "we will fight to the end," Zizou said at a press conference, asking for "respect" for the reigning champions, on the eve of this A priori easy match against the red lantern of La Liga (two wins this season).

As often in this kind of matches, and despite the presence on the lawn of Modric and Kroos, the masters to play in the middle, and Benzema, the official scorer, Huesca, well grouped in defense, has long held the dragee high at Merengues very active but not always adroit, authors of five shots in the first period including only one on target, by Benzema (34th), and pushed back with both hands by Fernandez.

Huesca even managed to lead for a few minutes early in the second period.

After a first warning at no cost, a shot from Rico on the crossbar of Courtois (46th), it was the winger Galan, well served by Okazaki, who opened the scoring with a powerful cross shot from the left sent into the right window of Courtois (48th).

- Zidane relieved -

It was time to react and the salvation of the White House came from a French world champion, like Zidane.

Varane doesn't score that often but he prefers when it comes to valuable goals.

He first equalized by taking his head, in a forest of players, a free kick from Benzema who had crashed on the bar of Fernandez (55th).

Then the same Varane gave Real a decisive advantage by taking back, with his left foot, a ball put away with his head by Casemiro, with rebound included, on a free kick shot by Kroos (84th).

"It was not easy today, but we could see the character of this team. We had control of the match and the faith it took to win it," reacted Varane, very smiling.

It was about time, and Zidane had reason to be relieved by the late outcome of this trap match, especially as Real takes back 2nd place with three points ahead of FC Barcelona who will play Sunday night on the Betis lawn. Seville.

"It can be okay, but we are not comfortable. We have to build, step by step, to get back to playing well," Zidane said after the game.

"We need to rediscover the pleasure of playing Real Madrid style," added the French coach.

Defender Sergio Ramos has had surgery on his left knee and is likely to miss the knockout stages of the Champions League.

But the Merengues will continue to "fight to the end".

Zidane had promised it and that's what they did on Saturday, on the lawn of Huesca.

© 2021 AFP