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Toulouse coach Alain Casanova believes that Paris Saint-Germain are on the same level as recognised European giants such as Barcelona, Real Madrid and Manchester United.

The 51-year-old feels the Parisiens are doing a lot to raise the profile of the French game, having lured stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Javier Pastore and David Beckham to Ligue 1 in recent years, and has nothing but praise for their approach.

“For me, this team is the calibre of Barcelona, Real Madrid or Manchester United, even if they have less experience,” the Toulouse coach was quoted as saying on the official Ligue 1 website.

“The value of any one of their players is equal to our budget. That makes you think. But it’s a great opportunity for Ligue 1 and for us all. PSG are a driving force, and we need that. PSG are doing a lot for French football.

“You can like their policy or not, but they are pulling our game upwards and we needed that. It’s up to the other clubs to organise the revolt, to find solutions and the means to improve in terms of their play and economically.”

Toulouse host PSG on Friday evening.

After the glorious spectacle of Wednesday night’s Clasico at the Bernabeu, it is back to earth with the proverbial bump for Real Madrid on Saturday as they travel to struggling Granada.

The Champions at times played some stunning football against Barcelona, who themselves contributed to a magnificent evening’s entertainment, yet of course the game at Granada will be a very different affair.

price Madrid at 3/10 (1.33) for the win while Granada, who gave Madrid a fright in the fixture last season, can be backed at 8/1 (9.00), with the draw offered at 4/1 (5.00).

The Andalusians will be hoping for an immediate impact having unexpectedly sacked manager Juan Antonio Anquela and replaced him with a man who’s been on more journeys than a high speed train, Lucas Alcaraz.

Having been in charge of Granada in the early 1990’s, the nomadic Alcaraz has plied his trade across the entire Andalusian region; from Almeria in the west to Huelva and Xerez in the east via Cordoba, the 46-year-old is well versed in the travails of lower league football in the south of the Iberian peninsular.

Facing the reigning Spanish champions, however, is another matter, and while Granada have played some decent stuff this season, they have struggled pitifully in front of goal. Their total of 18 goals in 21 games is the second lowest in the league and among the lowest of any team in Europe’s major divisions.

With Sergio Ramos returning from suspension and Rafael Varane showing the world just what a talented player he is, Madrid should have little problem in keeping a clean sheet, something they have done in each of their last three league games.

Therefore punters would be wise to invest in Madrid to win without conceding offered at the exceptionally appealing price of 29/20 (2.45).

Granada have failed to score in nine of their 21 league games this season, and with Madrid beating them 3-0 earlier this season, there is a great chance that Los Blancos will maintain their new-found defensive solidity against once of the division’s poorest sides.

For a value bet, back Real Madrid to score twice in the first-half at 16/5 (4.20) which looks to offer some decent value as, if Madrid get an early goal, there is every chance they will follow it up with another against a shaky Granada back four.

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Phil Kitromilides is a sports anchor working on TV in Madrid. You can also follow Phil on Twitter.

Real Madrid legend Fernando Hierro has taken the time to praise Raphael Varane in the wake of the Frenchman’s impressive performance against Barcelona.

The young centre-back put in a man-of-the-match performance to help Madrid to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final against the Catalan giants, and has since been compared to Hierro.

“It’s not time for that or for any other comparisons. Varane is very good, he’s magnificent and he’s got it all,” Hierro told Marca.

“He’s a player with good ball control, good positioning and he’s very fast. He’s also strong in the air in both boxes.

“But he must be left to grow, so he can be taken care of, creating the ideal environment for him to develop and show what he’s got.

“Flaws? It would be strange if he didn’t have anything that needed correcting at the age of 19. Varane is equally good now as he was before having played against Barcelona.”

Varane has made 18 appearances in all competitions this season for Madrid, and was rewarded for his good form at club level with a call-up for France’s international friendly against Germany.

New Granada boss Lucas Alcaraz could hand a debut to Diego Buonanotte in Saturday’s Primera Division encounter against Real Madrid at Los Carmenes.

Youssef El-Arabi is available after returning from Africa Cup of Nations duty, but fellow striker Fabian Orellana has been loaned out to Celta Vigo.

Winger Dani Benitez is still sidelined with a hamstring injury while defender Pape Diakhate is suspended.

Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrao and Angel Di Maria all return for Madrid after the trio missed the 1-1 Copa del Rey draw against Barcelona through suspension.

Iker Casillas (hand) and Pepe (ankle) remain out, while Mesut Ozil serves a one-match ban for accumulating five yellow cards.

• The Andalusian side have lost their last three encounters against Real Madrid by an aggregate score of 10-2.

• Granada have scored just 18 goals in their 21 Liga matches this season.

• Real Madrid have won just one of their last five away games in all competitions (W1, D2, L2).

• With just 20 goals conceded this term, Los Blancos boast the second best defensive record in La Liga.

• Alvaro Arbeloa (pictured, right) played his 150th game for Madrid in the 1-1 Copa del Rey draw against Barcelona.

Tottenham star Gareth Bale has once again spoken of his admiration for Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, describing him as a “benchmark” for every aspiring footballer.

The winger scored an impressive individual effort in Spurs’ 1-1 draw with Norwich City on Wednesday night, a game that coincided with El Clasico as Ronaldo’s Madrid also clawed back a one-goal deficit to level matters against Barcelona.

And Bale, who has previously described the Portuguese superstar as his “idol”, told reporters of the forward: “The way he plays, I think he is the best all-round player in the world.

“People have said things in the past [that] the stuff he does is similar in a way to what I do. All I can do is keep playing my football. He is right up there and a benchmark for every player who wants to be as good as him.

“The free kick technique works for him and he scores a lot of goals and big goals. He is obviously doing something right and it’s good to look at other players, how they do things and take my game to another level.

“You set your sights [on playing like him] – he is on a different planet apart from [Lionel] Messi. He is one of those players that everyone aspires to and I’d love to be half as good as him.”

Bale’s 80th-minute strike cancelled out Wes Hoolahan’s opener, and the Welshman felt Spurs were “unlucky” not to secure all three points even after an admittedly poor first half.

“It felt good when I was running through,” he said of his 12th club goal of the season. “I had a lot of space to run into which I like and it was a good goal.

“The important thing was it got us back into the game near the end and we were unlucky not to get three points.

“They are difficult grounds to go to, playing against teams fighting against relegation and the manager told us at half-time we weren’t good enough. We came out in the second half and played some great stuff and turned up a few gears, showed what we’re capable of and we were unlucky not to win.”