Almost three months after taking over Real Madrid's coaching job, Zinedine Zidane will not only try to end Barcelona's long unbeaten streak, but he will also try to end Los Blaugranas' dominance over any Real Madrid boss making his debut in El Clásico.
The French manager, who has only lost one game with Los Blancos since being appointed on January 4th, will add his name to a long list of managers who have faced Barcelona in a league match, most of them being handed a defeat in their debut game facing los Culés.
Rafa Benitez, Carlo Ancelotti, José Mourinho, Manuel Pellegrini and Juande Ramos were all unable to claim victory in their first Clasico at the head of Real Madrid's coaching staff. Here's a recap of how these five managers fared against Los Blaugranas in their debut game.
2007 - 2008 season: Schuster was the last coach to win his first game vs Barcelona
The German coach was able to win both Clásicos in his first season with the team. His first clash facing the Catalunyan outfit ended with a 1-0 away win thanks to a late first-half goal by Sergio Ramos. Later that year, Schuster's crew secured La Liga's title prior to the match against Barcelona, forcing Los Culés to praise them with a "Pasillo" formation. The game ended with a 4-1 win for Los Blancos, making this one of the most humiliating moments in Barcelona's history.
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2008 - 2009 season: Blowout at the Bernabeu
Barcelona had their chance for payback a year later, taking home maximum points against Real Madrid and forcing Schuster's exit following their 2-0 win on December 14th. Newly appointed coach Juande Ramos was then handed one of the most humiliating defeats in the history of world football rivalries, as Los Culés strolled past Real Madrid with a 6-2 score line. Although Real Madrid scored first, three goals for Barcelona in 18 minutes sealed the deal for the visitors and gave them a chance for payback.
2009-2010 season: Zlatan's goal left Pellegrini empty-handed
Everything seemed to be working according to plan for Real Madrid during Manuel Pellegrini's first Clásico, but a massive left-footed volley by Zlatan Ibrahimovic gave Los Blaugranas another victory. The second -and last- game coached by Pellegrini as Real Madrid's tactician also had Barcelona coming off with the 2-0 win, sealing his fate as Los Blancos manager.
2010-2011 season: Mourinho's "Anti-Barça" method failed miserably at Camp Nou Stadium
José Mourinho had just signed as Real Madrid's boss, and his first date with Pep Guardiola's side proved to be cruel. David Villa scored a brace, while Xavi, Pedro and Jeffren added a goal each to hand "The Special One" a very special 5-0 blow.
2013-2014 season: Neymar and Alexis were too hot to handle for Ancelotti
Following Mourinho's term as coach, Carlo Ancelotti's approach restored the good vibes and flow within the Real Madrid squad. However, his wisdom as a tactician was tested in El Clasico on October 26, 2013. A couple of goals by Neymar and Alexis Sanchez sealed the deal for Barca. Jesé scored a late goal but it was nothing more than a consolation.
2015 - 2016 season: Benítez got hammered by the MSN attack
Rafa Benítez was never Madridistas' first choice to take over as manager following Ancelotti's controversial dismissal. All of their fears were justified when the then-unbeaten Spanish capital giants hosted Barcelona. The latter hardly broke a sweat to defeat Los Blancos in their own backyard. A brace by Luis Suárez, followed up by a couple of goals from Neymar and Andrés Iniesta shamed Keylor Navas and handed the former Liverpool boss a blow he would never fully recover from.
Could Zinedine Zidane become the first Real Madrid coach, since Bernd Schuster, to triumph in his first Clasico?
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