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Zinedine Zidane: Real Madrid draw with Las Palmas was cruel

MADRID, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 21: Coach Zinedine Zidane of Real Madrid CF looks on as he enters to the pitch prior to start the La Liga match between Real Madr
Image: Zinedine Zidane saw Real Madrid held to a draw by Las Palmas

Zinedine Zidane was left to rue a "cruel" setback after Real Madrid conceded a late equaliser to draw 2-2 with Las Palmas on Saturday.

Real suffered the disappointment of just missing out on a top-flight record of 17 consecutive wins when Villarreal held them to a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, and they dropped two further points in Gran Canaria despite leading twice.

Marco Asensio headed them in front in the 33rd minute and Karim Benzema made it 2-1 midway through the second period, but goals from Tana (38) and Sergio Araujo (85) earned the hosts a point and put them fifth in the table.

Real are top but Barcelona's 5-0 win at Sporting Gijon earlier in the day has left them with just a single-point advantage.

"We had controlled the game, but you have to play until the end. Sometimes football is cruel," said Zidane.

"Playing like that over 90 minutes, we will be at the top, no doubt about it. Difficult things happen sometimes in football. When we score late to win I am happy, so today I will not complain.

Marco Asensio (R) of Real Madrid CF celebrates with his team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring his team's first goal v Las Palmas
Image: Marco Asensio celebrates with Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring

"We had a good game (compared to the first-half display against Villarreal) but when you concede two goals you cannot say everything is perfect."

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Cristiano Ronaldo looked unimpressed at being substituted with 18 minutes to go, but Zidane insisted it was no reflection on his performance but merely an effort to keep the Portuguese fit and fresh for the challenges ahead, with a game away to Borussia Dortmund on Tuesday.

"I did not take Cristiano off because he was playing badly, but because we play another game on Tuesday and he has to rest," the Frenchman added.

LAS PALMAS, SPAIN - SEPTEMBER 24:  Sergio Araujo (3rdR) of UD Las Palmas celebrates with his team mates after scoring his team's second goal during the La
Image: Las Palmas scored a late goal to snatch a draw

"He was playing well, like the others, but I had to think about Tuesday."

Las Palmas coach Quique Setien told reporters at a press conference: "I am happy (with a point) because we suffered out there and we had a bit of luck to get a point against Real Madrid.

"The players have done an extraordinary job, and it was a notable improvement from the game against Real Sociedad (which Las Palmas lost 4-1 on Wednesday night).

"We had faith that we could get a second goal and we made great efforts to get it."

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