Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona - Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain - December 23, 2017 Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane looks on REUTERS/Juan Medina
MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane braced himself for a chorus of criticism for his team selection after their humiliating 3-0 defeat at home by Barcelona which saw the Catalans widen the gulf between the two rivals in the Liga standings to 14 points.
The French coach made the surprising decision to play Mateo Kovacic in place of Isco in Saturday's 'Clasico' to strengthen the midfield, but after a strong first half display his side were repeatedly ripped apart on the counterattack by Barca.
