Real Madrid: 5 players who must have a big April

CM Luka Modric

Luka Modric is now tied for the most appearances with the Croatian national team in the country’s history, though he did absorb a rough tackle in his side’s 1-0 loss to Slovenia to start the international matches. But Modric is fine, which is important to Real Madrid in all circumstances, but especially now that Toni Kroos and Fede Valverde have their own injuries.

Kroos and Valverde will be out against Eibar after the break, and the latter of the two center midfielders is not expected to be ready in time for the Liverpool match. Thus, a lot will be on Modric’s plate, as usual.

Modric is still one of the absolute top midfielders in the world, and he showed how he brings all-around excellence to the middle of the park in a dominant performance in Casemiro’s stead as a deep-lying midfielder in the 3-1 win over Atalanta. Look for Modric to add some more highlights to his season reel in April.

LW Vinicius Junior

We close our list of five with another forward. Vinicius Junior has found it hard to score goals again, but he did nab the game-tying goal against Real Sociedad last month. Better yet, Vinicius was unstoppable on the ball against Atalanta, creating chance after chance and even winning a penalty to seal the game. His finishing still needs work, but what matters more is that Vini is producing chances from nothing.

With Eden Hazard likely done for the rest of the season, the 20-year-old is a fixture on the left wing for Real Madrid. Marco Asensio should settle into a backup role, while Rodrygo Goes is better on the right than just about anyone else. So that leaves the left side all to Vini, with the exception of maybe the occasional Rodrygo start on that side. He is the guy, and he must be the spark again in April, especially in El Clasico. And we all remember what he did to Barcelona last year.