Luka Modric is set to miss Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Manchester City due to an injury and so we’ve checked out how the Spanish club have done without him this year.
Even at 37 years old, the Croatian midfielder remains to be one of the best midfielders in Europe. With five Champions League medals already in his locker, he will be hoping to add a sixth this year.
Real Madrid are seen by many as the juggernaut of Europe. Even when they seemingly aren’t at their best, they still manage to find a way in Europe’s elite competition.
Modric played a huge role in Madrid’s last Champions League triumph with some truly breathtaking performances on the way to the final. We’re still in awe of his ridiculous trivela assist against Chelsea last year.
Real Madrid have a hectic fixture list to come with a Copa del Rey final against Osasuna around the corner, before then facing Man City. Right now it seems touch and go whether Modric will recover in time.
“He has had a small injury and it depends on how it evolves. I don’t know if he will reach the Cup final, we must evaluate him. We are hurt, but it can happen. I hope he recovers,” Carlo Ancelotti told reporters.
“In terms of characteristics, it is Ceballos, but we have different resources, we have very good midfielders like Tchouameni, Camavinga in order to replace Luka.
“He’s a very important player, nobody can replace him in terms of experience in these types of games, but I won’t complain, because we have midfielders of the highest level.”
Ancelotti is lucky enough to have several other top class midfielders to call upon in the Croatian’s absence. The likes of Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga have all racked up over 1,500 minutes in the league alone.
Modric himself has featured in 28 La Liga matches this season, with 11 of those appearances coming from the bench. In that time he has scored four goals and provided three assists.
He has also been a huge asset in the Champions League. The 37-year-old has started in all four of Real Madrid’s knockout games against Liverpool and Chelsea.
Modric is a man for the big occasions and Ancelotti’s side will surely feel his absence if he doesn’t recover in time for the Copa del Rey and Champions League.
We’ve had a deeper look into Real Madrid’s record from this season with and without Modric in the starting line-up. We have included games from La Liga, Super Cup and the…
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