Zidane unhappy with snowfall affected pitch in Osasuna draw

Zinedine Zidane said Real Madrid’s goalless draw with Osasuna was “not a football match” and should have been called off after Spain was hit by a snowstorm.

Madrid missed the chance to overtake Atletico Madrid at the top of La Liga and allowed Barcelona to creep closer after Lionel Messi scored twice in a 4-0 victory over Granada.

Atletico’s match at home to Athletic Bilbao earlier on Saturday was postponed due to the snow, meaning Diego Simeone’s side are top with three games in hand over their rivals.

Osasuna’s pitch in Pamplona was certainly affected by the snowfall, especially in the middle third, but large parts were green and the referee decided the game should go ahead.

“We played the game because they told us to play the game but the conditions were very difficult,” said Zidane.

“For me this was not a football match. In the end we played, and that’s it.”

Real Madrid are due to play Athletic Bilbao in Malaga on Thursday in the Spanish Super Cup semi-finals.

“We don’t know what we’re going to do now, whether we stay here tomorrow or if we’re going to travel on Monday, we’ll see.”

Zidane added: “It is not an excuse. What everyone wants to see is a football match and today the conditions were not met to see a football match.

The National Sport