Real Madrid: 5 burning questions after tough win over Real Betis

How will the Real Madrid midfield do without Toni Kroos?

Toni Kroos will miss this week’s games against Real Valladolid and Levante with a muscular issue he picked up against Real Betis. The German international had to be substituted at half-time for Luka Modric, as he simply could not continue.

Real Madrid’s midfield did not suffer without Kroos, thanks to brilliant work from Modric and half-time substitute Isco. Both men changed the game for Los Blancos and were instrumental in the 3-2 victory at the Benito Villamarin.

Kroos’ injury opens up questions but also experimentation for Zidane. With Martin Odegaard in the side, Zidane had a great young talent in the attacking third who can press and create chances with his incisive passing. He showed those traits in spades against his old club, Real Sociedad, in the first match of the season.

Odegaard was quiet against Real Betis, but Isco more than made up for it in the second half. It will be exciting to see how Zidane rotates these two players in the coming months.

As for Modric, he always has his role. He’s been electric to start the season, just as he was to close the title-winning 2019-2020 La Liga campaign.

Kroos was world-class on Matchday 2, as always, but the midfield should be excellent this week even without his gigantic presence.