Real Madrid: Luka Modric, Isco are starting to play well again
Real Madrid fans have been wondering when midfielders Luka Modric and Isco would return to form after their injuries, and it looks like both players are making their case for more playing time.
When they are at their best, Real Madrid center midfielders Isco and Luka Modric are world class. Unfortunately, Madridistas haven’t seen either player at their best over the last couple of seasons, with Real fans showing particular concern over Isco’s ability to return to his status as one of the world’s most effective and creative No. 10s.
While Modric and Isco still have uncertain futures with the club beyond the 2019-2020 season, both players have recently shown the kind of form that indicates they can make this campaign a successful one.
Firstly, Isco finally looked himself in a substitute appearance against Galatasaray. The game was already a blowout and Isco didn’t have to do much, but the Spanish international looked spry on the ball and sent in some teasing through passes that split Galatasaray’s admittedly sieve-like defense last Wednesday.
Whereas Isco looked sluggish and out of his depth as a flat center midfielder in a 1-0 loss to RCD Mallorca, he showed the same traits against Galatasaray that made him one of the world’s most sought-after attacking midfielders at one point. Even if he doesn’t remain with Real Madrid beyond this season, he’s both made the case for more playing time and for more interest from the likes of Juventus on the transfer market.
Modric, on the other hand, put in the strongest performance of the two players. He had a full 90 minutes of strong play against Eibar in Real’s final game before the international break, recording an assist and putting together a more complete performance than he did against Granada before the October international break (where he scored a banger of a goal).
Despite some anonymous performances in the middle of the park and an embarrassing gaffe to start October against Club Brugge, Modric has reminded Real fans that he still has copious technical quality and intelligence on the ball. Even at 34, Modric can be a game-changer; it’s just a matter of managing his minutes so that his quality can shine without his decreased fitness exposing him.
The name of the game is depth, and Real Madrid have the squad that can win multiple trophies this season, even accounting for a somewhat slow start to both the domestic and European campaigns. While Fede Valverde, Toni Kroos, and Casemiro are entrenched as the starting midfield trio, Real, as the injuries this season have indicated, will need more than three strong options in the middle of the park to control games offensively and defensively.
Therefore, it is crucial for talented veterans like Modric and Isco to find their form and produce consistently. Though it’s too early to declare that both men are back on track, they have shown encouraging signs of a rebound in the matches prior to the November international break, and fans should be excited to see their roles against Real Sociedad and PSG when Los Blancos return from the week off.