Real Madrid vs FC Barcelona combined XI for the pre-season El Clasico

Central Midfielder – Luka Modric

Writing this specific segment for Luka Modric, in my opinion, is absurd. In my perspective, there is seriously and very literally no rivalry in the game for the Croatian from both teams and, perhaps, from throughout Europe. Real Madrid’s number 10 merely rushes in, defies the odds, proves the unprovable, and departs as if nothing happened; he makes his job appear like the easiest job in the world and illustrates with every stride on the field why he is the greatest midfielder of this generation.

Some could argue that Pedri from Barcelona is Modric’s main rival, but with all due respect to Pedri, who is a great player, there is just no comparison, and Pedri’s comparison to Modric is off the charts for the teenager, who despite his brilliance still has much to show and has yet to achieve significant success at his club.

Defensive Midfielder – Franck Kessié

Franck Kessie, the former AC Milan midfielder who had an unbelievable season with the new scudetto champions, was one of FC Barcelona’s multiple huge transfer moves this summer. There are various attributes that Kessie possesses that make him a tough competitor for this position.

A physically imposing midfielder who ranks above Sergio Busquets and Frenkie De Jong in his camp and competes with Casemiro in the department. The Ivorian national is a competent box-to-box defensive midfielder who also poses an extraordinary danger in front of the opposing goal, distancing him from Madrid’s Brazilian tank.

Kessie scored 6 spectacular goals in 31 Serie A matches, an incredible feat for a defensive midfielder who is already good in his primary responsibilities. The difference between Casemiro and Kessie may be minor, yet it is sufficient to propel the latter to a higher level, on the basis of their performances last season.

Central Midfielder – Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos is called into question about his contribution at Real Madrid, and each time he responds appropriately to a question that should not have been asked in the first place because Kroos’ impact on a team is so subtle but so valuable that it frequently goes unnoticed and therefore underestimated.

Toni Kroos, as previously said by Casemiro, oversees it all in the Real Madrid squad, from pressing techniques to movement tempo. His function as an underlying playmaker combined with defensive duties to establish a chain between defence and offence has been demonstrated several times, and he maintains his levels above those of other Barcelona players in this position.