Real Madrid: 5 players who must shine against Eibar on Matchday 29

RW Marco Asensio

Ideally, Real Madrid would continue to use Marco Asensio in a super-sub role, as his late goals against Celta Vigo and Atalanta provide a clue that this could be his best role for the team. He has been a disappointment as a starter this season.

But it looks like he will start against Eibar, making his return to the XI. We can’t underestimate how much a break from the XI has helped Asensio. The quality is there, and he could show it this Saturday afternoon. Eibar will make things tough for Real defensively, so Asensio will need to step up if he starts.

CM Luka Modric

We conclude with another midfielder in Luka Modric, whose importance to the team was already massive. But now that Toni Kroos and Fede Valverde are out this weekend, Modric’s importance has only skyrocketed, as he is the clear leader of the midfield trio without Kroos available.

Modric was worked hard during the international “break”, even coming in against Malta when Croatia were struggling despite it apparently being a rest game for him. That sounds a lot like the Elche fixture for Real Madrid, right?

The man is tireless, though, and I would expect him to have another big game, as the margin for error for Real is zero at this point in the campaign.