Real Madrid: 5 burning questions from a 2-0 win over Granada

How crucial is Luka Modric to Real Madrid?

Luka Modric has been the superstar of superstars for Real Madrid in the 2020-2021 season, playing a key role in each of their first five wins in the streak. Unfortunately, the workhorse in midfield finally needed some rest, as he had a muscular overload during the match against Eibar and was forced to miss the Granada match.

Fede Valverde started and looked capable, while Toni Kroos stepped up as, in my opinion, the best overall player in the patch. But Los Merengues were clearly missing something without Modric’s tireless ball-carrying, ingenious runs, and chance-creating passes in the final third.

Modric has been one of the absolute best midfielders in European football this season, if not the best. He has scored wondergoals and orchestrated matches, showing up as a top performer in the biggest matches of the season.

Real Madrid cannot have Modric back in the starting lineup soon enough, because this team doesn’t tick the same way without him. Are they still effective? Yes, absolutely. But I don’t think Los Blancos are truly a great side that strikes fear when Modric isn’t playing. He is a special, special player who does literally everything you could ask for on that right-hand side. The triangles he, Dani Carvajal, and Lucas Vazquez create are lethal to any defense.