Real Madrid: Zinedine Zidane hails Barcelona win as 'turning point'

Zinedine Zidane has hailed Real Madrid's win at Barcelona in La Liga as a "turning point" in their season. Goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo gave the capital club a 2-1 win at the Nou Camp on 2 April, after Gerard Pique had given the home side the lead with a powerful header in the 56th minute.

The result put an end to Barcelona's 39-game unbeaten run in all competitions and cut the Catalan giants' lead at the top of La Liga to six points. Zidane said the victory provided the club with a major fillip before their Champions League quarter-final trip to Wolfsburg.

"This can be a turning point — it is very important, for the rest of the season, for our spirit," Zidane was quoted as saying by ESPN. "And just before we play in the Champions League in Germany. Before the game, we wanted to keep doing what we are doing, preparing well.

"These are three points — it is a derby, it is better to win it, but these are [just three points]. Now we must think about resting well, and the next game, which is very important for us, and for what we want to do."

'Title race not over'

Third-placed Real are now seven points behind leaders Barcelona with seven games left in the season. Zidane insisted that the title race was not over yet and attributed the Clasico win to his players' superior fitness levels.

"There are still games to play. To win here is an enormous prize for all the players. They played an enormous game," the Frenchman said.

"We made a huge effort, against very good players. When I see us like that, united, giving everything for your teammate, for a coach that is the best. Our start was not so good, but better to start difficult and end well as we have done.

"When you score a goal here, the second goal, it shows that physically we ended the game very well," he added.