The pair missed Madrid’s 2-0 win over Espanyol on Sunday, a result that saw Los Blancos equal Barcelona’s La Liga record of 16 straight victories achieved in 2010-11.
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And he’s yet to play 90 minutes for the Spanish giants so far this campaign, although he did chip in with a goal in Real’s 2-0 win over Espanyol yesterday.
Sept.19 (ANI): Real Madrid produced yet another imperious performance by equalling a La Liga record set by rivals Barcelona with a scrappy 2-0 win over Espanyol here at RCDE Stadium on Monday.
Zidane does so with one eye on the calendar too: three days after Villarreal, Real Madrid head to Las Palmas to play the in-form side, on 27 September they travel to Dortmund and on 2 October they host Eibar.
James has struggled for a regular place in Zinedine Zidane’s plans and was making his first start of the season at the Estadi Cornella-El Prat on Sunday, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale sat out due to illness and a hip injury respectively. “I’m very pleased with the win”, he said.
Speculation over the previous year has regularly linked James with a move to Manchester United, while Chelsea, PSG and West Ham have also been credited with an interest in the attacking midfielder. But I believe whichever starting XI Zidane puts out there for the mid-week clash; they have enough talent to win this game.
“They have also got players who play very intensively and are very quick”.
Zidane’s men continued to grow into the game as the first-half progressed, and finally made headway in front of goal just before the half-time whistle as James Rodriguez rifled in a low strike from 30 yards after successfully riding two challenges to create space. We’re a close-knit team that always want to keep winning.
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As reported by ESPN, Rodriguez denied reports that he wanted to leave Real Madrid back in the summer.
