Real Madrid vs. Getafe: 3 players who must step up with Toni Kroos suspended

CM Luka Modric

We begin with Real Madrid’s other world-class midfielder, Luka Modric. The Croatian international has been magnificent in the 2020-2021 season for Los Blancos, averaging 1.4 key passes per game and 1.9 dribbles completed per game in La Liga, according to WhoScored.com.

Modric had a solid performance against Huesca, though he did take somewhat of a backseat to Toni Kroos. Still, we could have been singing Modric’s praises just as effusively if the strikers were more efficient, as they did not make the most of the passes Modric sent their way in the final third. But that’s basically been the story of the season for Modric and Kroos, with the former only having two assists thus far due to the wastefulness of the forwards.

On Tuesday, Modric will be vital to Real Madrid. He must carry the ball, pull the strings, and run his socks off even moreso than usual. Los Blancos rely on Kroos to dictate play on the ball and keep possession for the team, as he is both an incredible progressive passer and an incredibly accurate passer. It is rare to find someone who is the league’s best in both passing accuracy and key passes, yet Kroos has done it.

While it’s hard to ask Modric to do more than what he’s currently being doing this season, Los Blancos have no other choice. They must ask their long-time midfield star to raise the bar for the rest of the team on Tuesday night.