It’s about time Zinedine Zidane is given a bit of credit isn’t it? 33 games unbeaten in all competitions. Just one short of the all-time Real Madrid record set in the 1988-89 season.

Some talk of luck, and Sergio Ramos’ 90th-minute equaliser at Barcelona will add fuel to their fire, but such musings do the Frenchman a huge disservice.

His ability to alter the course of a game has been proved time and again since he has been in the Real hot-seat and, thus far, he hasn’t put a foot wrong. Not one to be constrained by a single system or formation, Zidane is at his best as the solutions man.

The seemingly impossible — keeping his entire squad happy — appears to have been achieved with the possible exception of James Rodriguez, and yet for all of the Colombian’s disenchantment over his current situation, one can’t readily point the finger at Zidane.

His decision making in the biggest games so far has been without compare. We saw it again at the Camp Nou when he may well have brought Rodriguez on but instead opted for Mariano Diaz, a tall, quick, direct and physical striker who caused havoc up front for Los Blancos in the five minutes he was on the pitch.

Real’s stated aim at the beginning of 2016/17 was the La Liga title and Zidane is doing everything humanly possible to achieve it.

Focus now switches to the Champions League and Real’s immediate destiny is in their own hands, albeit they must win against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday to top Group F. Currently two points behind the Germans, if they don’t emerge victorious at the Santiago Bernabeu — and the status quo elsewhere remains the same — there’s potential for Los Blancos to have a tricky two-legged affair in the first knockout stage.

They could even be paired with a side such as Juventus.

This time last season, they topped Group A with 16 points — ahead of PSG (13), Shakhtar Donetsk and Malmo (both on 3) — and arguably had an easier run to the final.

For a team with a record of 11 European Cups, finishing second in the group can’t be contemplated. If Zidane is able to pull that one out of the bag and then get a routine three points against Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend, Real head to Japan and the Club World Cup in the best possible health.

The tournament has often been derided in the past however, and it tripped Real up not so long ago too.

Under Carlo Ancelotti, the all-whites had won 22 games in a row in all competitions but the pre-Christmas trip to Morocco followed by a friendly against Milan in Dubai knocked them out of their stride.

A loss against Valencia in the first game of 2015 saw doubts creep in and although the next five games were won, Real looked tired. Three defeats and a draw in their next seven games is ultimately the form that saw them cede the league title to arch rivals Barcelona — who famously went on to claim the treble.

Zidane’s studious rotation of his side could actually see the team ease through this period and if he remains unbeaten and sets a new mark, it’s about time he was given the credit he fully deserves.