Real Madrid vs. Valencia: 3 players who could decide the match

CM Luka Modric

Luka Modric will be expected to rejoin the starting XI after a short rest for the 36 year old for the Copa trip. He was Real Madrid’s only positive in a forgettable loss against Getafe at the Coliseum. The maestro will look to continue from where he left off. A short rest is only expected to work in favor of the Midfield magician.

Carlos Casemiro is experiencing an uncharacteristic poor run of form at the moment. He didn’t even impress me at Alcoy. That puts extra pressure on Luka Modric. If we rewind to the Madrid Derbi, it was Modric’s recoveries that the team severely relied on. If Luka Modric pulls off a performance anywhere near his level from El Derbi, he’d be the decisive man on the pitch for Los Blancos.

It is surprising to see all the things that he does at his age. It is simply unreal. He has been putting on increased shifts, handling the responsibility of being the captain at times, and working his ass off for the club. There just isn’t any other way of describing what Modric has been doing game after game for Real Madrid. His ability to dictate the game’s momentum is what can come to be of great use to Real Madrid against this attacking Valencia side.

This game against Valencia should be a similar one. Modric knows and understands very well that a win is probably the only result that would bring some momentum back into the squad. The first two games of the year haven’t gone the way Carlo Ancelotti would have liked and Modric, I think will again do his best to get the attitudes of the team back on track with an inspiring display. He needs to lead this team by example.