Three options to replace Luka Modric against Barcelona

Luka Modric will miss out on the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona. Who should replace him? Alex McVey looks at three options Zidane has at his disposal.

Real Madrid’s midfield maestro Luka Modric will be watching the Super Cup from the stands. Modric is suspended due to an infraction in the Spanish Super Cup of 2014. Yep, you heard that right. Modric is serving a suspension from a foul he probably forgot about three years ago.

Who will take Modric’s place in the lineup? Zidane has plenty of options at his disposal. Let’s look at three potential choices Zidane could make.

1. Isco

Isco, who struggled for playing time under Zidane during the first half of last season, played a big part in Madrid’s victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Super Cup.

Playing behind Benzema and Bale in the front line, Isco helped break Manchester United’s lines, and drew defenders away from Modric, Kroos, and Casemiro, providing the dynamic midfield trio the space they needed to operate. Oh, and he scored the goal to put Madrid up two, ultimately out of United’s reach, a goal the likes of which he has scored time and time again, a low curler around the keeper from near the edge of the box.

Isco played in the front three against United because Ronaldo was not yet fit to start the match. If Ronaldo or Asensio start in the front three, it would free Isco up to take Modric’s place in the midfield. Isco has many of the traits that make Modric great. His low center of gravity makes it near impossible to steal the ball off him. He’s capable of escaping an intense press. And while he’s not nearly as good at positioning and intercepting as Modric, Isco can still put in a decent defensive shift when required.

Isco is probably the first choice to replace Modric. If Real Madrid want to win the Spanish Super Cup, get the season off on the right foot, and avoid embarrassment against their Spanish Rivals, then they should go with the trusted option who has lots of big game experience. Isco is the man. However, Zidane does have a few other options with slightly less big game experience than Isco.

2. Mateo Kovacic

Many will be calling out for Zidane to substitute one Croatian midfielder for another, and bring in Mateo Kovacic into the starting lineup against Barcelona. Kovacic has played a bit role for Madrid over the past two years. While his minutes and appearances have increased steadily over the course of two seasons, Kovacic still has not been able to consistently break into Madrid’s first team lineup.

Kovacic has long been thought of as the heir apparent to Luka Modric.

His lung-busting dribbles through the center of the park add an extra dimension to his game, making him potentially an even more potent offensive threat than Luka, while perhaps not yet having Modric’s unmatchable footballing intelligence.

If Zidane doesn’t go with Isco, he should consider giving Kovacic a runout. Kovacic needs to start seeing a serious increase in his minutes this season. The match against Barcelona would give Mateo the opportunity to prove himself in an El Clásico, and begin to make his case for his further inclusion in the squad this season.

3. Dani Ceballos

Zidane got a reputation last season for sending out surprising, heavily rotated lineups full of youngsters and squad players. If Zidane wants to continue that trend, he could pick Dani Ceballos.

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Real Madrid purchased Ceballos this summer from Real Betis, where he played a crucial role commanding their midfield. Scouts praise Ceballos for his acceleration on the ball, his energy, and his ability to break through opposition lines. However, he is also able to control a midfield when playing deeper, something he demonstrated with Real Betis.

Ceballos lit it up with Spain in the U-21 Euros this summer. Being able to stand out in a lineup already packed with young stars like Marco Asensio showed that Ceballos has what it takes to bring his game up to the next level.

Zidane could give Ceballos a golden opportunity: the chance to make his competitive debut for Real Madrid in an El Clásico with silverware on the line. For those who want to see Real Madrid highlight their youth in pre-season, Ceballos would be an excellent pick as a replacement for Luka Modric.

Next: Dembele should be the first priority, not Mbappé.

Who do you think should replace Modric in Madrid’s lineup? Let us know in the comments, and stay tuned to The Real Champs for more coverage of the Spanish Super Cup.