Real were impressive in the derby as the Frenchman outwitted Diego Simeone on Saturday, but can the same tactics work when all of the front three are fully fit?

Zinedine Zidane came of age as a coach against Atletico. The 44-year-old clearly learned the lessons from derby defeat to Diego Simeone's side in February and was ready having a different plan to win the match this time around.

Ronaldo hat-trick gives Madrid memorable derby win

With Karim Benzema struggling for fitness, the French coach utilised Cristiano Ronaldo in the central striker position, with Isco behind him in a playmaking role, while Gareth Bale and Lucas Vazquez played as orthodox wingers in the four-man midfield.

It worked superbly. Even without the injured Casemiro, Madrid matched Atletico's intensity, dominated your initial half completely and went on to win the game comfortably after Atletico had briefly threatened a revival in the second period.

It was probably the best performance in Zidane's tenure so far and, after the match, the coach is said to receive told his players in the dressing room: "If we play with that intensity, nobody can beat us." However the question now is: can Madrid compete that same intensity with the Frenchman's favoured front three of Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo?  




Benzema's lack of fitness allowed Zidane to make a really important change, with Ronaldo furthest forward and concentrating solely on attacking duties. Meanwhile, Isco was a revelation in the role of a currently established number 10 - a position he loves but never gets to play these days for Madrid - and both Bale and Lucas worked hard on the flanks where they were equally important in attack and defence.

VIDEO: Gareth Bale on his Madrid team-mates

With Alvaro Morata out, Zidane was unable to bring in the Spain striker as a straight swap for Benzema and that may have done the coach a favour. Instead, he was instructed to conjure up something different and the surprise factor seemed to stun Atletico, while the presence of Lucas makes Madrid much more intense in regards to work-rate - precisely what they needed against Atleti.

Zidane has insisted since day a bed that his idea usually play with "the three up top" and he reiterated that in the press conference previous to the match against Sporting on Tuesday. "It's not that they are non-negotiable," he said on Monday. "They are simply the perfect."