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Zinedine Zidane backs Karim Benzema

Real Madrid Castilla boss Zinedine Zidane backs Karim Benzema to overcome his goal drought for Real Madrid.

Real Madrid Castilla boss Zinedine Zidane has backed Karim Benzema to overcome his goal drought for Real Madrid.

The French striker has scored just two goals in his last 18 games for the Spanish side and was substituted just past the hour mark in Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Atletico Madrid.

However, Zidane has backed his countryman to overcome a disappointing run of form.

"He is the main striker at Real Madrid even though he hasn't scored much lately, but his critics should always get behind him," he told RMC Sport.

"Karim should score for both Madrid and France and he is conscious of that. He knows what kind of player he is and how much is expected of him.

"Last year I was a lot closer to him, but not so much this year because I have been a lot busier. In the next match he will score and everybody will then move onto something else."

Zidane acted as assistant to Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti last season, but took charge of the Castilla side at the beginning of this season.

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Real Madrid's French assistant coach Zinedine Zidane looks on before the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs Real Betis at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on August 18, 2013
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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Atletico MadridAtletico19135134122244
2Real Madrid19134243192443
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal198653431330
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad198471713428
8GironaGirona198472725228
9Rayo Vallecano196762222025
10Real BetisBetis196762123-225
11Osasuna196762328-525
12Celta Vigo197392830-224
13Sevilla196582128-723
14Las PalmasLas Palmas196492429-522
15Getafe194781316-319
16Leganes194781829-1119
17AlavesAlaves1945102131-1017
18Espanyol1944111731-1416
19Real ValladolidValladolid1943121337-2415
20Valencia1927101829-1113


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