Real Madrid: 3 players who must shine after the break with Toni Kroos, Fede Valverde injured
Real Madrid are set to miss two center midfielders after the March international break. Toni Kroos reportedly had an adductor injury before going to Germany for the break, while Fede Valverde is expected to miss time with a right leg injury he suffered last weekend in the win over Celta Vigo.
According to a report from Jorge C. Picon and Tomas Roncero of AS, both Kroos and Valverde are expected to miss Real’s first game after the break on Saturday, Apr. 3 against Eibar in La Liga. A few days later on Apr. 6, Los Blancos will face Liverpool in the Champions League, and the club may miss both players in that pivotal fixture. Valverde seems less likely to play than Kroos.
Here are three players who must shine in their absences against Eibar, as well as against Liverpool in the case that one or both star midfielders cannot suit up due to their injuries.
CM Luka Modric
Real Madrid have asked a lot from Luka Modric this year. The 35-year-old is one of six players on the team with over 2,000 minutes in La Liga, and he has been right there alongside Toni Kroos, Karim Benzema, and Thibaut Courtois as one of the absolute top performers on Los Blancos in the 2020-2021 campaign.
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Modric is in great form and will be vital, especially in the Champions League against Liverpool. You’d bet on him to have a Man of the Match-type display against a Liverpool midfield that has, quite frankly, disappointed, even after acquiring former Bayern superstar Thiago.
CB Sergio Ramos
Toni Kroos is the world’s finest passer. He is completing nearly 94 percent of his passes with 2.5 key passes per game in La Liga and eight assists. But besides the chance-creation, which Modric must help fill, Kroos’ composure and accuracy in the build-up play are vital.
Good thing, then, that Sergio Ramos is back in the lineup and is one of the world’s best at completing long balls and accurately dictating the play from the back. He’ll have to help fill in for Kroos when it comes to sending in progressive passes into the final third, including those of the lofted variety. He must be perfect against the pressure of Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah, who will be his main matchup as the left center back.
CM Isco
If neither Toni Kroos nor Fede Valverde can play against Liverpool, then we could conceivably see Isco start in another Champions League match, albeit as a center midfielder instead of a false nine. Isco looks set to start against Eibar anyway, and every start is a big opportunity for the former Malaga man, whose chances in the XI have been few and far between.
As we saw last season in big matches against Barcelona and Manchester City, as well as this season in the first half vs. Real Sociedad, Isco can still offer something to this team. He may be on his way out this summer if Real can find a suitable offer, but it’s not necessarily a guarantee he will be transferred.
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Isco still has another shot at sticking around, and Madridistas should be rooting hard for him to find his form, no matter what the future holds. I can see his name getting called in the XI either next weekend against Eibar and even thereafter against Liverpool, if the worst comes to worst. And I have this feeling Isco could turn up the heat once more.