Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane is one match away from making history against Borussia Dortmund in Champions League

ZINEDINE ZIDANE can tonight achieve a momentous piece of Real Madrid history.

The French boss will equal Madrid’s longest unbeaten run in all competitions if they avoid defeat at home to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.

To do it in his first year in charge would be special even by his unrivalled standards.

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As a Real player he won La Novena, their ninth Champions League, then La Decima as Carlo Ancelotti’s No 2. Lastly, he claimed La Undecima as boss last May, just four months after taking charge.

Zizou’s impact on a squad seemingly going nowhere under Rafa Benitez just 12 months ago is astonishing.

And now he has them on the brink of equalling Real’s 34-match unbeaten record, set under Dutchman Leo Beenhakker in the 1988-89 season.

But, more than avoiding a failure to equal Beenhakker’s record, Real actually need to win — otherwise Dortmund will top their group.

Skipper Sergio Ramos praised Zidane yesterday in a damning indictment of Benitez’s ill-fated, tension-filled five-month spell last season.

Ramos, who scored a dramatic late equaliser in El Clasico at the weekend that kept the run going, said: “Zidane has this kind of magic that shone when he was a player and now as a coach.

“Since he arrived the ambience changed for the better.

“It’s good and positive now which helps the team dynamic. There is harmony and empathy, different to what we had before. The merit goes to Zizou’s work.

“We’re all proud he is the leader of this ship and of his work, tactical and physical.”

Ouch, Rafa.

This season Real are six points clear at the top of La Liga.

That is despite NO major summer signings and injuries to Luca Modric and Casemiro initially, then Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale.

Since taking charge in January Zizou has the joint best EVER stats in La Liga for his first 34 matches. Of any coach not just Real bosses.

Zidane’s Madrid record reads: P34 W27 D6 L1. Real legend Miguel Munoz and Manuel Pellegrini (both W28 D3 L3) would also give Madrid 87 points.

But they both lost three Liga matches, Zidane has lost just one.

Zidane is better than both Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho too.

Pep’s first 34 Liga games at Barcelona were: W26 D5 L3, Mourinho at Madrid managed W26 D5 L3. Madrid also banged in 100 goals in those 34 matches, averaging 2.94 goals per game — another record.

Zizou makes big decisions. Dropping James Rodriguez from any big match and just giving him substitute cameos in the lesser games is one.

Unlike his predecessor Benitez, he has no pressure from upstairs. President Florentino Perez has allowed his protege free reign.

There is no “political line-up” under Zidane. Benitez was accused of that when he played James and Isco in El Clasico and lost 4-0 at home just over a year ago.

Madrid are not spectacular to watch and Zidane was criticised earlier this season after four draws on the spin.

But critics claiming he is tactically naive have been forced to eat their words. Because his tactical tickles make the difference.

Like this El Clasico detail. Lucas Vazquez was hassling Barca’s Gerard Pique at every set-piece.

And that is how Ramos found the space to score from Modric’s free-kick at the death to earn Real a point at the Nou Camp.

Pique said: “He was doing it all the time. Lucas was intent on unsettling me and not let me get to where I could.

“They know I am the tallest in the team and important in defending set-pieces.” The Frenchman had only ever managed Castilla, Real Madrid’s reserves, before January. He served as Ancelotti’s No 2 in the Italian’s first season in charge.

Real’s last defeat came on April 6, a 2-0 first-leg Champions League quarter-final loss to Wolfsburg.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s hat-trick in the return leg took them through.

The only team that has beaten them in La Liga so far is Atletico Madrid, last February. But Zidane exacted sweet revenge in the Champions League final and two weeks ago thrashed them 3-0 at the Calderon.

He also gained revenge on Barca by winning El Clasico at the Nou Camp in April. Despite falling 12 points behind Barca last season, they eventually finished just one point behind the Catalans, who won the title.

Now, Real are leading Barcelona in La Liga by six points.

Zidane has also given Madrid the “Fergie time” effect. This season in SEVEN matches Madrid have scored late goals to either win or avoid defeat.

So is he lucky? Zidane said: “Yes, I’m very lucky it’s true.

“I do what I like every day. I am lucky to be in this great club that first gave me the chance to play here, which not everyone can achieve, and then to coach them.

“But apart from luck there is work and passion.”