Zinedine Zidane has a lot to prove against Thomas Tuchel. The German is the only coach whom Zidane has faced at least three times and not beaten, with Tuchel going unbeaten in their four games against one another.
In those four games, three have ended all square while Tuchel has beaten the Real Madrid boss once.
They first faced off in the group stage of the 2016/17 Champions League, the year wherein Real Madrid went on to win the double. Los Blancos didn’t drop points too often that season, but they did draw twice against Tuchel’s Borussia Dortmund. The Bundesliga side, in fact, took top spot in the group with two more points than Real Madrid.
Unbeaten and Champions League leaders
In Germany, Real Madrid led twice but lost their lead in the 87th minute. Back in Spain something similar happened, as Los Blancos saw a 2-0 lead slip to be pulled back onto terms in the 88th minute.
Their latest meetings
The rivalry rekindled in 2019/20, again in the Champions League’s group stage, though this time Tuchel was in charge at Paris Saint-Germain.
The Ligue 1 side managed to beat Real Madrid quite comfortably at the Parc des Princes, before the two coaches played out yet another draw at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
In all, Zidane has faced as many as 35 coaches three or more times since taking the job at Real Madrid, and Tuchel is the only of those that he has failed to get the better of. As well, he’s the only of those coaches that Zidane doesn’t have the better head-to-head record with.
Now, the semi-final tie against Chelsea will allow Zidane to right those wrongs, but it won’t be easy against Chelsea.
A dangerous Champions League
This European campaign is full of danger for Zidane, who hasn’t beaten any of the three remaining coaches, with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City and Mauricio Pochettino’s PSG still standing.
