Zidane says Clasico is not about revenge for 4-0 thrashing at Bernabeu
Real Madrid were thrashed 4-0 by Barcelona at the Bernabeu in November, however, Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane believes that the Madrid players won't have revenge on their minds when they take on Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
Real Madrid were in good form before the international break winning their last five matches but Zidane accepted that facing this Barceloan side will be a new challenge altogether.
"The players know perfectly well what happened [in the previous Clasico]," the Frenchman told his pre-match news conference. "Revenge? No, it's just a game we want to win.
"We're on a good run, playing well lately. We keep doing our work. I want to see my team playing as they have been doing lately.
"I will sleep the same as always tonight. I will enjoy tomorrow – my first Barca-Madrid match as a coach. I want to enjoy it.
"It's a football game. We must remember that and enjoy it – a chance to play against good players and test yourself against Barcelona.
"It is not easy to beat Real Madrid. I want to see a good game of football and my team winning.
"On paper, maybe it's a different game. But we will not change anything. We will prepare well and start the game strongly.
"For a player, El Clasico is the most beautiful game that exists in football. I'm happy now to live it as a coach."
Madrid will be without defender Raphael Varane due to a calf problem, but Toni Kroos will be available despite needing treatment after a training ground challenge with Jese Rodriguez on Friday.
"He's okay, I think he was more in a state of shock," Zidane said of the Germany midfielder. "The pain was over after training. He will be with us tomorrow."
Iniesta says Clasico will be a much better match without Jose Mourinho
Encounters between Barcelona and Real Madrid have always been matches to remember but during Jose Mourinho’s time at Real Madrid, things got out of hand on more than one occasion. Iniesta is happy that the Portuguese manager is not in charge of Real Madrid anymore.
"I prefer the Clasico to be a normal game, not like it was during the three years Mourinho coached Madrid," he said.
"We all prefer to talk about football. All the controversy off the pitch did not benefit anyone. Those were important moments, but the important thing is that it is something from the past now."