Alaves vs. Real Madrid: The expected midfield with Toni Kroos injured

Toni Kroos will miss an unknown number of matches to start the 2021-2022 LaLiga campaign due to pubalgia, so Real Madrid fans are on-edge regarding a midfield that was already thin to begin with. Throw in a multi-week injury to Dani Ceballos in addition to the never-ending Martin Odegaard unrest, and there are serious questions about the health of the midfield.

The German international will 100 percent miss this weekend’s opener at the Mendizorroza against the rough-and-tough Deportivo Alaves. Kroos’ calmness on the ball and creation will be missed against these opponents, especially when you consider the marvelous chances he created against them last time.

According to a report from Pablo Mendez of AS, Isco is expected to start in the Real Madrid midfield in the place of the injured Toni Kroos. Luka Modric and Casemiro are also set to start alongside Isco, which is no surprise given they are the usual starters in the Holy Trinity of the Merengue midfield – Kroos being the third of them.

Isco played very well against Milan, as he was one of the standout performers of the match alongside Gareth Bale and youngsters Antonio Blanco and Miguel Gutierrez. Blanco could have been an option to start, but Isco’s ball-carrying and familiarity with Carlo Ancelotti likely make him the preferred option.

Isco has a lot to prove to Real Madrid in the 2021-2022 LaLiga campaign

With a couple of days before Saturday night’s match against Alaves, there are no guarantees Isco will be in the XI. But Mendez sounds confident, stating that only a surprise would keep the Andalusian out of the starting lineup for LaLiga’s first matchday of the 2021-2022 season.

Isco has been mired in transfer rumors – mostly to Milan, in fact – but his wages preclude him from a move. Therefore, with his contract winding down, he has a point to prove to not only Madridistas and Spanish football fans, but also to the wider world. The magician from Malaga has weaved his wonderful footwork for Real Madrid in years past, but it has been too long since the Madrid faithful have seen Isco consistently at his best.

Perhaps he will make a statement against Alaves that he has turned a new leaf under Ancelotti after feeling frustrated with Zinedine Zidane in 2020-2021 – the manager who once also favored him more than the others.