Zidane: "I have decided my starting lineup"

Zinedine Zidane spoke to the press ahead of Saturday's El Clasico against FC Barcelona.

"This will be a very tough game, very difficult, very tough, but that is normal. We are playing against a great opponent but that's why we prepared well for this game and the most important thing for us is to be focused on our own job, we can perform well and get a good result if we do that," said Zidane.

Real Madrid have a six-point lead to Barcelona but Zidane isn't thinking about getting a draw at the Camp Nou.

"Well, I am not thinking about a draw, a loss or a victory, I am thinking about playing a good game because if we do that we will get a good result, we will try to win the game and forget about the lead we have in the table because we are not playing around with the calculator," he added.

Barcelona have been struggling lately and Zidane wants to play with intensity to have a good chance against the Catalans.

"I am not too concerned about the game they played against Real Sociedad, we are going to play against the reigning champions and those teams always play well in big games. It will be a great match and a very different one from last season's El Clasico" said the French manager.

Reports from Spain suggest that Lucas Vazquez and Kovacic will start the game with Casemiro waiting for his chance on the bench.

"I have decided my starting XI," he explained without naming a single player. Zidane also said that Real Madrid's game plan will not change no matter whether Barcelona's Andres Iniesta is fit enough to start the match or not.

"First of all, I believe we all need our star players to perform and deliver, we know the kind of players they have," he explained.

Karim Benzema will be in the starting lineup regardless of what many polls and journalists want.

"We know how important he is for us, he provides plenty of things and in these big games he plays even better," said Zidane about Benzema.