ss

Zinedine Zidane vs Thomas Tuchel: Head-to-Head Record | H2H Stats | Champions League

Tuesday night is all set for a confrontation between two managers, Zinedine Zidane and Thomas Tuchel as Real Madrid take on Chelsea in the semi-final first leg of the UEFA Champions League.

Current Chelsea boss, Thomas Tuchel, and the Frenchman Zinedine Zidane have had meetings in the past. Tuchel has managed to imprint his philosophy very well into the side and suddenly, a struggling Chelsea side has started to monopolize games very well.

The two may have not fought it out lately, but both the managers have fielded their sides against each other before, and it has been Thomas Tuchel who has the edge.

Let's embark on the comparison between the two by first emphasizing how things panned out when they met each other on the sidelines last time.

1) Borussia Dortmund vs Real Madrid (2016 | Westfalenstadion)

Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Image credits- dailymail.co.uk 

The first meeting between Thomas Tuchel and Zinedine Zidane took place in 2016, and it took just 16 minutes for Zidane and co to take the lead against the Black and Yellow. It was Cristiano Ronaldo who fired and broke the deadlock. 

However, just two minutes before the half-time whistle, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang equalized for Dortmund.

The second half witnessed Los Blancos regain control again, and in the 68th minute, Raphael Varane found the net and restored Madrid's lead. 

Real Madrid were about to successfully see out the game but an 87th minute Andre Schurrle goal put an end to what turned out to be a disappointing game for Zidane and co.

Final Score? Thomas Tuchel 2-2 Zinedine Zidane

2) Real Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund (2016 | Santiago Bernabeu)

Ronaldo scores against Dortmund
Image credits- dailymail.co.uk 

The story and the script did not change much this time either. Real Madrid, once again contrived to take the lead, but this time it was Karim Benzema who scored in the 28th minute. 

After the second half commenced, Real Madrid looked to be in complete control that eventually resulted in a second Madrid goal scored by Benzema again. However, just seven minutes later, Aubameyang was again to the rescue of Dortmund coach, Thomas Tuchel, as he got his side's hopes back into the game.

Dortmund started to play with more intent and Madrid didn't understand what to do. Once again, Borussia Dortmund and Thomas Tuchel managed to steal a point against Zinedine Zidane and his Real Madrid side as Marco Reus scored and the game ended with the points being shared.

Keeping a track of the score aren't y'all? It's a 2-2 tie between Zinedine Zidane and Thomas Tuchel yet again.

3) PSG vs Real Madrid (2019 | Parc Des Princes)

Di Maria scores against Real Madrid
Image credits- dailymail.co.uk 

This time Thomas Tuchel had a stronger side, with the likes of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe, while Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid were without their talisman, Cristiano Ronaldo. Unfortunately, it was Madrid who were on the receiving end this time. 

PSG broke through with a 14th-minute goal from Angel Di Maria. Almost 20 minutes later, the Parisiens doubled their advantage, and it was Angel Di Maria again who scored against his former side.

With no real threat from Real Madrid, PSG played with the ball very well, and it was Thomas Meunier who put the final nail to the coffin as PSG thrashed Madrid 3-0, with Tuchel taking a lead against Zidane.

Final Score: Zinedine Zidane 0-3 Thomas Tuchel

4) Real Madrid vs PSG (2019 | Santiago Bernabeu)

Real Madrid vs PSG
Image credits- dailymail.co.uk 

Zidane and co needed to reply strongly as they were embarrassed last time out against the Ligue 1 side. The game went as planned, with Karim Benzema scoring an early goal, with Madrid ending the game with the lead at half-time.

Zidane Zidane was inching closer to square things between him and Thomas Tuchel, when Benzema found the net again, completing his brace just before the 80th-minute mark.

However, credit to PSG as they didn't give up where most of the sides would do against the Los Blancos, and they were rewarded with a goal from Kylian Mbappe just a couple of minutes later Benzema doubled their lead.

PSG started flooding Real's half, while Madrid had no option to defend. The Paris club worked hard enough to fire another goal and ruin Madrid's night as Pablo Sarabia scored in the 83rd minute, rescuing a point for Tuchel and his side.

The match ended, Zidane Zidane 2-2 Thomas Tuchel

Head-to-Head Stats
Thomas Tuchel Wins1
Zinedine Zidane Wins0
Draws3

So now it's clear that Thomas Tuchel is currently having the upper hand in the head-to-head meetings having been unbeaten against Zinedine Zidane as a manager, and not many managers can say that.

As the managers meet again, Zinedine Zidane will once again lead the Real Madrid squad in the Champions League, but Thomas Tuchel is now back with another different side. Tuchel has already become a huge personality in the dressing room, and it seems the result are more than enough to speak for themselves.

Knowing the fact that Chelsea set up with three men at the back, Zinedine Zidane may field his XI just like he did against Atalanta. 

However, Thomas Tuchel has a lot to fight for. Not to forget, Eden Hazard is deemed fit to play his former side, and Zidane would hope that he makes his presence more visible on the pitch. 

Thomas Tuchel has a younger, faster, and more compact midfield, while Zinedine Zidane has an experienced midfield duo, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, both legends with a destroyer defensive midfielder Casemiro behind them.

The possibilities are immense and we may see both the managers make changes to their usual playing style. What is intriguing is to see whether Tuchel sustains his supremacy, or if Zidane strikes back with a comprehensive execution.

Real Madrid vs Chelsea: Prediction 

Looking at the head-to-head history between the two managers and the current form of both Chelsea and Real Madrid, Sportco predicts a draw for this game.

Leave a Reply