Zidane finally hits form for Real Madrid

Real Madrid's world-record signing Zinedine Zidane said his performance in his team's 2-1 victory over Sevilla on Saturday showed he had finally found his feet at his new club.

"It was my best game for Real, not just in terms of individual performance but because the team is now playing well as a unit," the Frenchman told reporters after the game.

Zidane looked confident throughout, orchestrating the Real attacks and prising open a dogged Sevilla defence to set up striker Fernando Morientes to score either side of halftime.

"I felt very comfortable on the pitch," Zidane said. "I felt good physically, technically and was happy with where I was playing on the pitch and that's the way it should be. I am also happy that I was involved in both of my team's goals."

After his $66-million transfer from Juventus in July, the 29-year-old midfielder pleaded for time to settle in at his new club.

But after a poor start to their championship defence some of the Spanish media questioned Real's wisdom in spending their whole transfer fund on just one player.

The team's good form in Europe seemed to add weight to this view. Zidane was unavailable for Real's first four Champions League matches as a result of a suspension incurred while playing at Juventus during last season's competition but his team mates cruised to victory in all the matches he missed.

But Zidane's impressive performances on his return to European action and in his last two league matches against Barcelona and Sevilla have brought eulogies from the Spanish media.

"An exhibition of Zidane magic," read the headline in sports daily Marca on Sunday.

El Pais heaped praise on the Frenchman, saying: "Zidane produced a beautiful performance, full of classy touches and great vision, displaying perfect control and delicate passes....Everything was unhurried and made to look easy."

The player himself, however, was more concerned with practical matters in his assessment of the game.

"The important thing is that we won. We have got three points and now we can concentrate on next week's game in the Champions League."

The win was only Real's fifth league victory in 13 games. They now lie seven points behind leaders Deportivo Coruna, who won 3-1 at home to Real Sociedad.

Real play Sparta Prague in their opening Champions League second-phase group match on Wednesday.