Real Madrid round-up: Zidane, Ronaldo, Isco, Lienhart...
All the latest news from Real Madrid, inlcuding Austrian hopes of a Lienhart debut, Zidane's century and Ronaldo's record as captain.
Zidane’s century
The Real Madrid manager will mark his 100th game in charge as a coach at the club in the Polish Army Stadium. The Frenchman oversaw 57 games as Castilla boss and has so far been in the dugout with the senior side on 42 occasions.
Isco 2022?
Spanish radio show El Larguero reported on Tuesday night that Isco has reached an agreement to extend his deal at the Santiago Bernabéu until 2022. Real are eager to tie all their key players down to long-term deals with a transfer ban in place and Dani Carvajal is also close to the top of the board’s list of players due to be offered new deals, El Larguero said.
Referee reunion
Zidane will also renew his acquaintance with match official Pavel Kralovek, who was in charge of the first Champions League the Frenchman experienced, the 2-0 win over Roma in the Stadio Olimpico last season. Kralovek was also the man in the middle when Real played Ajax in Amsterdam in the 2012-13 season, the visitors triumphing 4-1 with a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick and a goal from Karim Benzema.
Ronaldo captain for a third time in Europe
The number 7 will wear the armband in Warsaw in the absence of the three club captains, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Pepe. It will be third time Ronaldo has captained the side in the Champions League after doing so previously against Ludogorets Razgrad and Malmö. The former match ended 4-0 in the Bernabéu, with Ronaldo on the score sheet from the spot and Gareth Bale, Álvaro Arbeloa and Álvaro Medrán also on target. Away at Malmö, Real won 2-0 with Ronaldo providing both goals.
Austria hoping Lienhart gets a chance against Leganés
The Austrian press have taken note of Zidane’s decision to include Álvaro Tejero for the trip to Warsaw and have speculated that Philipp Lienhart may get his chance to debut for the first team in La Liga against Leganés on Sunday. The Austria under-21 international central defender has played every minute of every game he has been available for Castilla this season and featured in the ill-fated Copa del Rey match against Cádiz last season.