The National’s Sport cover for Wednesday, February 17 features Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane as he returns to Rome for the first time as manager of Real Madrid in a Uefa Champions League last-16 tie.
As a player with Juventus, Zidane faced Roma many times and emerged triumphant. Can that form translate as manager?
Ian Hawkey: Italian football helped sculpt the artistry of Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane
He spent five seasons at Juventus, was voted the best footballer on earth while there, and at the end of two of them the Serie A title ended up in the Italian capital, to the irritation of the club from Turin.
Rome may feel an awkward place for Zidane to make his first appearance as a manager in the Uefa Champions League, too.
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