Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane denies he's freezing out Martin Odegaard.

The Norway midfielder has been missing from Real's first team since the beginning of December and was again absent for last night's draw at Elche.

"Nothing is happening with Odegaard. You have to choose. Nothing happens," insisted Zidane.

The draw leaves Real in second place on the table, two points behind Atletico Madrid, which boast two games in hand.

Zidane added: "Yes, they (Atletico) do not fail. The LaLiga is very long, there is a long way to go. All teams are going to lose points. We have to continue our business, keep fighting, we are going to lose points and that's why we have to continue.

"We come from many good games, with good results, today there was a break but we have to continue."