Pressure was lifted off Zinedine Zidane when Real Madrid won its first game since October on Saturday, even though the single goal it scored came as an own goal from the Sevilla goalkeeper, AFP reported on Saturday.  

Real Madrid will enjoy a much-needed respite after the 1-0 away win, as talks about Zidane’s ouster as the team’s manager gather steam.  

Madrid’s sole goal came when goalkeeper Bono guided Vinicius Junior’s effort into his own net in the second half, allowing  Zidane’s side to move up to third in the table after their first victory in La Liga since October.

Since Madrid were handed a 2-0 drubbing against Shakhtar Donetsk midweek to leave their Champions League qualification hopes hanging by a thread, media reports in Spain have touted former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino and ex-Madrid forward Raul for Zidane’s job.

Zidane made two changes to the starting XI from the debacle in Ukraine with Casemiro and Vinicius replacing Martin Odegaard and Marco Asensio.

Former Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui brought back Bono into the starting lineup for Sevilla after he missed four games due to COVID-19, which included Wednesday’s heavy defeat to Chelsea in the Europa League.

While the Moroccan goalkeeper made a shaky start as his attempted clearance inside his own box was intercepted by Vinicius, he made up for the error on his own line despite Karim Benzema’s efforts.

The former Girona keeper kept the sides equal at the break with a tidy save from Benzema’s 38th-minute shot, but his crucial mistake came 10 minutes into the second half.

Ferland Mendy played a low cross into the area before Vinicius slid in to guide it towards the goal.

Bono came out to close the space but deflected Vinicius’ limp attempt into his own goal.

Suso, making his first appearance for the host since late October, and Lucas Ocampos had late chances to equalise but Zidane’s men held on for a morale-boosting win before Wednesday’s crucial Champions League group game against Borussia Moenchengladbach and the all-important Madrid Derby next weekend.

Later tonight, Atletico Madrid and in-form forward Joao Felix can go above Real Sociedad and take the top spot as they host Real Valladolid, while Barcelona head to Cadiz.

Sociedad travel to Deportivo Alaves on Sunday.