Real Madrid vs. Elche: 3 takeaways from a 2-1 win on Matchday 27
Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are too important
Every Madridista knows that Toni Kroos and Luka Modric are two of the best players of this generation at any position, and they remain two of the best midfielders in the entire world. Without them, Real Madrid would be in serious, Liverpool-type trouble, and we clearly saw that through the first hour of the match before they made their way back into the lineup.
Kroos and Modric were supposed to get much-needed rest before Tuesday’s match against Atalanta, but Zinedine Zidane realized that plan had to be scrapped when he saw how poorly Real were playing. And as they were warming up on the touchline, Elche scored off a corner to take a shock lead over Madrid.
The two midfielders righted the ship with their passing and control of the match, and it was Modric who lofted the cross to record the assist for Benzema’s opening goal.
It’s an indictment on the rest of the squad that they cannot function against a relegation side without Kroos and Modric. There’s no doubt that these two wonderful midfielders deserve all the praise in the world, but it is sad that a club like Real Madrid cannot take care of opposition like Elche with the rest of their personnel.