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Late draw does not 'taste like victory', says Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane

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Highlights of Barcelona v Real Madrid in La Liga

Zinedine Zidane insisted Real Madrid's last-gasp 1-1 draw at Barcelona did not 'taste like a victory' despite the result keeping the capital club six points clear at the top of La Liga.

Sergio Ramos' bullet header from a Luka Modric free-kick in the final seconds of normal time rescued a point for the visitors and extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 33 matches.

Barcelona took the lead in the 53rd minute through Luis Suarez's header, and they should have doubled their advantage with chances which fell to Neymar and Lionel Messi.

The result - and the nature of it - seems to keep the momentum in the title race firmly with Real, but Zidane resisted the urge to be too upbeat about it.

Real Madrid's French coach Zinedine Zidane gestures during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs SD Eibar at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in
Image: Zinedine Zidane does not think that the late El Clasico draw feels like a win

"It is just one point, it does not taste like a victory," Zidane said in his post-match press conference. "It is a good point, and we keep picking them up. I don't believe this is a blow for Barca's morale. We have a six-point lead, but it does not change anything. We must keep working, this is a very long season."

Real had the better of a lacklustre first half but Barcelona lifted themselves after going in front, with substitute Andres Iniesta particularly impressive.

Sergio Ramos celebrates his equaliser for Real Madrid
Image: Sergio Ramos celebrates his equaliser for Real Madrid in the dying minutes

One more win or draw for Real against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Wednesday night will equal the club's all-time unbeaten run of 34 matches, set in the 1988-89 season.

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"What stands out for me is the work of the whole team," Zidane added. "In the end, Sergio was there to score the goal. When they scored it lifted them. But we kept going and the heart of the team stood out again. We believed in ourselves again.

Cristiano Ronaldo
Image: Cristiano Ronaldo gestures after missing a chance at the Nou Camp

"I don't know if the result is fair or not, but it's what it is. We got a point and it's not easy to do that here."

Modric was Real's outstanding performer, dictating the rhythm of Real's play and providing the killer set-piece delivery for Ramos' leveller.

"We know the importance that Luka has in our team," Zidane said. As always he played well. After his injury, now it seems he is back."

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