Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has claimed that his team are still in with a chance of winning La Liga this season.

Los Blancos, who suffered a 1-0 defeat at Espanyol in the league on Tuesday night, are currently 15 points off the division leaders Barcelona with just 12 matches of the season left to play.

Barcelona have not lost a single game this season en route to topping the pile, but Zidane has insisted that the reigning champions can still catch their rivals in the latter stages of the campaign.

"You think that the league is over for us but football is like that and every league match is important. The title will go down to the wire and we'll fight until the end. It's difficult but not impossible. I'm an optimist until the end," Zidane told reporters.

'We're angry about losing on Tuesday and I'm even more so after Barcelona's draw yesterday (against Las Palmas). You have to be focused until the very last minute and we're not giving in."

Real Madrid are next in La Liga action at home to Getafe on Saturday night.