Real Madrid: Isco finishes 2019-2020 on the highest note
Real Madrid attacking midfielder Isco can often be a target of criticism, but he was the star man on the final matchday.
In all honesty, Real Madrid’s final match of the 2019-2020 season meant nothing to the team. While Real always want to play with full professionalism, you could see the lack of intensity, as they simply didn’t have anything to play for at Leganes after having already sealed the title on Thursday night with a win over top-five side Villarreal. Meanwhile, Leganes had everything to play for, needing a win to escape relegation.
Real Madrid and Leganes shared the spoils 2-2, meaning Leganes were deflated and Real didn’t get to make it 11 out of 11 wins since La Liga’s return. But one player did distinguish himself as a standout performer for Los Blancos. And his name is Isco.
The center attacking midfielder has been strong in 2020, returning to form after a dismal 2018-2019 and an up-and-down first half of the 2019-2020 season. Isco has always been favored by Zinedine Zidane, so it was no surprise to see him return to form under the French manager while taking away the spot in the rotation that James Rodriguez was fighting for.
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Isco’s two assists made sure Real Madrid got a point to add to their tally in 2019-2020. His second assist was a true delight, as he hit the ball with the outside of his boot to get Marco Asensio’s run at just the right time before the standout forward drifted offsides. And Asensio, as a great finisher, did the rest.
Per WhoScored.com, Isco bossed the match for Los Merengues with three key passes to lead the team and three dribbles completed to tie Ferland Mendy for the lead.
Isco was all over the field, starting attacks and making noise in the final third as one of the few Real Madrid players to bring his “A” game to the final match of the season.
Furthermore, Isco attempted a team-high 95 passes, completing nearly 90 percent of them.
He needed to be the midfield general with Toni Kroos starting the match on the bench and Luka Modric getting some well-deserved rest after helping lift the team to the title with four straight sensational games.
So Isco was the sensation on Sunday evening, buoying those two assists with a stellar range of passing. Only one player, center back Eder Militao, came within 25 attempts of Isco’s passes.
Next. Real Madrid Player Ratings against Leganes. dark
The Spanish international’s great showing at Butarque should set the stage for August, because he’ll be needed against Manchester City. Isco, a favorite of opposition manager Pep Guardiola’s, had a great game in the first leg, and he’ll need to elevate the team against Guardiola’s controlling midfield in the second, especially with them facing a deficit. It’s a good thing he’s ended the season on the hight note as the Man of the Match at Leganes.