Real Madrid returning on track after make an impression on 10-man Inter
Zinedine Zidane praised his side's performance as among the finest this year as Real Madrid shut in in the Champions League last 16 in Wednesday with a 2-0 win against 10-man Inter Milan that pushed the Italians to the brink of elimination from your competition.
Eden Hazard put True in advance with a penalty following merely seven minutes at San Siro and an Achraf Hakimi personal target doubled their lead as the Spaniards brushed off the absence of injured captain Sergio Ramos and Karim Benzema.
"They told us you do not win in the Champions Little league without Sergio Ramos, and this evening we did it," said Zidane.
Inter coach Antonio Conte admitted his aspect had received a "mountain to climb" because they played over one hour a man down following Arturo Vidal was first sent off.
"Leaving a workforce with 10 after thirty minutes is to kill them," Conte said.
The Chilean midfielder had argued for a penalty after heading down in the box but instead received two yellow cards for dissent.
Before that Hazard finally netted his first of all Champions League goal for Madrid from the location after Nacho had been brought down.
Rodrygo after that came off the bench and forced Hakimi to divert the ball into his own net against his former golf club for the second goal just before the hour.
"I have no idea if this is our most satisfactory match of the growing season or not, but we produced an excellent performance from start to finish, extreme and serious," said Zidane.
"We knew that these had been three super-crucial points for all of us and that drew the best out of my staff."
Real, the record 13-time European champions, approach second found in Group B with seven tips from four games, 1 level behind Borussia Moenchengladbach, with Inter bottom on just two details.
Zidane's staff had taken just one point from their primary two games after losing to Shakhtar Donetsk and drawing against Gladbach, but followed on here from their 3-2 win over the Italians found in Spain.
- Inter 'alarm bells' -
The defeat was a possibility to check for Conte's Inter against his former Juventus teammate Zidane's La Liga champions.
"I wonder we saw a notable difference between us and them. This will certainly not overwhelm us, it must make us recognize that there is usually a way to go. We must work, get eager and humble to understand at what level we are," said Conte.
"We must not make it possible for ourselves to be distracted by alarm bells coming from the outside, the only way to go may be the path of work and growth."
Conte's side is nevertheless close to a good third consecutive elimination found in the group stage.
"The situation is difficult, but there is always an expectation," explained Inter goalkeeper and captain Samir Handanovic of his side's expectations of reaching the last 16.
A minute's silence occurred before kick-off in honor of Diego Maradona, who died Wednesday aged 60.
Maradona's death was "a huge loss for the world generally and the environment of football," said past French World Cup champion Zidane, 48.
"I have the 1986 Universe Cup engraved in my mind. It touches us deeply, we are sorry, specifically for his family. I have no phrases. We are extremely sad relating to this news."
Former Italy international Conte, 51, added: "We all have been shedding tears for somebody who has certainly made football history and can remain forever in soccer history.
"We are discussing the poetry of a footballer who I also possessed the pleasure of taking part in against."
