Zinedine Zidane aims to kick Real Madrid complacency into touch against Juventus

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane before the match with Atletico Madrid at the weekend. (REUTERS)

Madrid: Juventus manager Zinedine Zidane has told his players to ignore the Champions League hype around Real Madrid after they were held to a 1-1 draw by city rivals Atletico in La Liga on Sunday.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s 24th goal in 15 games this year was not enough to earn his side a derby victory as an Antoine Griezmann equalizer secured Diego Simeone’s side a point.
Ronaldo was taken off shortly after the hour-mark at the Bernabeu while Luka Modric and Karim Benzema both started on the bench, with Zidane keeping one eye on tomorrow’s quarterfinal second leg at home to Juventus.
Real boast a 3-0 advantage from the opening clash in Turin and Simeone suggested that Los Blancos should now be considered favorites to claim a third consecutive European triumph.
Zidane, however, is wary of complacency and kicked all suggestions of another Champions League
victory firmly into touch.
“Everyone sees us going through to the semifinals and that’s exactly what we should not put in our head,” Real coach Zidane said.
“We know very well that we will have to suffer again on Wednesday.”
Meanwhile, Barcelona are closing in on a first trip to the semifinals since winning the competition three years ago.
The Catalan giants take a commanding 4-1 lead to Roma this evening after two own goals and strikes from Gerard Pique and Luis Suarez saw them stumble over the finishing line at the Nou Camp.
It has already been a dream first season in charge for Ernesto Valverde, with Barcelona unbeaten in the Spanish league and 11 points in front with just seven games remaining.
In the quarterfinals for the first time in a decade, Roma are not even sure they will be back in the Champions League next season.
The Italian capital club have only a one-point hold on the fourth Champions League place from Serie A. A 3-0 victory at Rome’s Olympic Stadium, however, would see the hosts through. And the Giallorossi are likely to have Radja Nainggolan back in the side after the midfielder missed the first-leg with a leg injury.