Granada v Real Madrid preview: La Liga title race resumes live on Sky Sports
Saturday 6 May 2017 19:17, UK
Zinedine Zidane expects a tough examination of Real Madrid's title credentials when they visit Granada, live on Sky Sports on Saturday.
If Barcelona slip up at home to Villarreal earlier on Saturday, Real could have the chance to move three points clear at the top of the La Liga table.
They already hold a game in hand over their closest rivals, making this weekend potentially pivotal in their bid for a first title in five years.
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Granada, led by former Arsenal defender Tony Adams, have already been relegated but Zidane believes Real's opponents will now play without pressure.
Zidane said: "It will be even harder because Granada have nothing to play for.
"They will give their all against Real Madrid and they have some quality players. We could say that they've had a bad season because they've gone down, but all year long they've demonstrated that they can compete at this level.
"Let us prepare well for the game and do the best we can."
Real also have one foot in the Champions League final after inflicting a 3-0 home defeat on city foes Atletico in the first leg of the semi-finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo, already on a century of European goals, improved his remarkable record with a hat-trick at the Bernabeu, leading Zidane to say: "I think he's the frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or again.
"He deserves everything he gets and having won that award so many times, he's already close to getting another.
"He has the respect of everyone here. You either love him or you don't - there is no middle ground."
Granada's relegation was confirmed following their defeat to Real Sociedad last weekend, but Adams has seen enough during his brief time in charge to be positive for the future.
The former England and Arsenal defender has been parachuted into the dugout from his role as sporting director following the departure of head coach Lucas Alcaraz. However, the Andalusians have lost five times under his care.
Adams knows Granada's best talent, Ghanaian midfielder Mubarak Wakaso, will leave Los Carmenes in the summer, and he is eyeing up some Spanish options ahead of the recruitment drive.
"Wakaso is too good a player to be in the second division so I don't really expect him to be here," Adams said at his pre-match press conference. "Instead it's very important that we sign some Spanish players for next season.
"We have been training in a competitive way throughout the year. The team played well last week and I want that to continue. We want to play against Real Madrid's best players because we are all professionals."
