Luka Modric News and Analysis

3 matchups that will decide Real Madrid vs. Sevilla on Matchday 18

19Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

3 matchups that will decide Real Madrid vs. Sevilla on Matchday 18

Real Madrid got their confidence boost on Wednesday with a 3-0 win over Pachuca to take home the Intercontinental Cup, as Kylian Mbappe shined in his tune-up game after returning from a hamstring injury he suffered last week against Atalanta. So far in December, Real Madrid have lost just one game, to Athletic Club, but after dropping more points against Rayo Vallecano, Los Blancos now have to worry just as much about Atletico Madrid ripping the title from them as they do a suddenly struggling Barcelona. This coming Sunday, Real Madrid will face one of LaLiga's historic clubs in Sevilla, who have steadily improved since a rough start to the season and are very capable of costing the Merengue club points as well. Here are three key matchups that could decide Matchday 18 at the Sant...

3 Real Madrid players who must shine against Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 17

12Dec

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

3 Real Madrid players who must shine against Rayo Vallecano on Matchday 17

After losing 2-1 to Athletic Club, Real Madrid bounced back with a 3-0 win over Girona, and they followed that up with three more goals against Atalanta in the Champions League, winning their first game in the competition since Oct. 22 against Borussia Dortmund. So Real Madrid are riding a high coming into Saturday's LaLiga fixture against local rivals Rayo Vallecano at the Vallecas. Here are three players on Los Merengues who must shine in order for the Merengue club to snag all three points. LW Vinicius Junior Vinicius Junior is by far the most important player to watch on Real Madrid with Kylian Mbappe out injured and Rodrygo Goes starting in the middle, because as we saw against Atalanta with his goal and assist from out of nowhere, he is the one with the ability to make the diffe...

Now we see why Real Madrid want Florian Wirtz despite already having Arda Guler

15Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

LaLiga

Now we see why Real Madrid want Florian Wirtz despite already having Arda Guler

Real Madrid have been one of the handful of elite clubs most frequently linked to Bayer Leverkusen superstar Florian Wirtz, and since former Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso is his coach and has his eyes on the Madrid managerial job after Carlo Ancelotti, there's a school of thought that says the Merengues are the favorites to sign the German international. However, there is another school of thought within the Spanish capital that says Real Madrid should not spend 100-150 million euros on a No. 10 when they already brought in the very talented and successful trio of Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler, and Brahim Diaz in summer 2023. All three men played key roles in Real Madrid hoisting the La Liga and Champions League trophies last season. Although Bellingham has moved back to a No. 8 role i...

Real Madrid own the Nations League Team of the Week with two usual suspects

13Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

LaLiga

Real Madrid own the Nations League Team of the Week with two usual suspects

Real Madrid have the biggest stars in world football right now, and the reigning champions of Spain and Europe love watching those same superstars shine on the international stage. While the UEFA Nations League is nothing more than a glorified friendly - which Kylian Mbappe isn't participating in because it's nothing more than an increased injury risk - it's still nice to see top players shining for their countries. Jude Bellingham and Luka Modric are two big-game Real Madrid players who, in particular, bring their best for England and Croatia, respectively, with Jude making a name for himself at the Euros with a bicycle kick for the ages to rescue England. Sofascore released their Team of the Week for Round 3 of the Nations League, and Real Madrid had the most players on the team...

Real Madrid have the best player of the Nations League so far with truly spectacular numbers

13Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

LaLiga

Real Madrid have the best player of the Nations League so far with truly spectacular numbers

Real Madrid are used to having their superstars shine on the international stage just as brightly as they do for the club, such as European Champion Dani Carvajal and Jude Bellingham, who scored an unforgettable bicycle kick this summer. The most consistent Real Madrid star on the international stage right now, though, has to be the ageless wonder Luka Modric, who turned in another high-order performance this weekend in a 2-1 win over Scotland. Modric was irresistible for his country, creating three chances and completing four dribbled as the Man of the Match. The legendary Madrid midfielder also won three tackles and six interceptions in a defensive monsterclass. On the ball as a passer, Modric was consistent as ever, completing nearly 90 percent of his 65 pass attempts (second o...

Ranking the 10 best LaLiga midfielders in 2024

5Oct

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Ranking the 10 best LaLiga midfielders in 2024

Obviously the superstars of Real Madrid and Barcelona are going to dominate a list of the best midfielders in LaLiga, but the entire top 10 list doesn't belong to the biggest two clubs in Spanish football alone. Here are the top 10 midfielders you need to know in 2024, including some stars from Real Sociedad and Villarreal. 10. Brais Mendez, Real Sociedad Brais Mendez has always been a great player, and he should have received more acclaim at Celta Vigo, where he was an excellent partner in crime for the legendary Iago Aspas. In 2022, Brais got a chance to break out of his shell a little more on a competitive Real Sociedad side that was stacked to the brim with underrated talents and top LaLiga stars in the midfield and the attack. During the first half of the season, Mendez was as...

Real Madrid predicted XI vs. Espanyol: Arda Guler and Luka Modric run the show again

19Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Real Madrid predicted XI vs. Espanyol: Arda Guler and Luka Modric run the show again

After defeating Stuttgart 3-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday, Real Madrid will head back to LaLiga this weekend for a battle against Espanyol on Saturday night at the Santiago Bernabeu. Nothing less than the full points will be expected for Real Madrid, and although they will be riding high after back-to-back wins over quality Spanish sides in Real Sociedad and Real Betis, Espanyol are stingy against the elite teams and shouldn't be slept on. Here is a look at the possible Real Madrid starting XI against Espanyol this weekend. Defense: Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal The best back four remains the same. None of these four Real Madrid starters is going to be displaced any time soon, and the only real weak link is Ferland Mendy wh...

Real Madrid have one doubt for their starting lineup against Stuttgart

16Sep

By Kevin ParviziNo Comments

Champions League, Features, LaLiga

Real Madrid have one doubt for their starting lineup against Stuttgart

Real Madrid will face Stuttgart in their first match of the 2024/25 Champions League campaign as the defending champions, having beaten another historic Bundesliga side in Dortmund in the Final. Stuttgart are underdogs through and through and don't have superstar striker Serhou Guirassy, who joined Dortmund this sumner, but as their 3-1 win over Gladbach shows, they still have the firepower to threaten anyone. After all, they finished higher than Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga last season. Real Madrid are coming off another big 2-0 win in LaLiga, this one over Real Sociedad, with Luka Modric putting in a vintage display and Arda Guler shining in his debut as a regular center midfielder. According to a report from COPE, with Aurelien Tchouameni set to move from midfield to center ...

11Aug

By Javier MartinezNo Comments

Features, LaLiga

Real Madrid’s Best XI Since 2000

Real Madrid, regarded as the most successful football club in history, has had the privilege of seeing numerous legendary players wear its iconic white kit. Over the past two decades, the club has enjoyed a golden era, winning multiple La Liga and UEFA Champions League titles. With so many great players contributing to the club's success, it leads to an interesting question: Who are the best eleven players to have represented Real Madrid since the 2000/2001 season? Goalkeeper: Thibaut Courtois If no one has ever dared to say it, then I'll be the first to do so: Thibaut Courtois is not only better but he's also surpassed Iker Casillas as Real Madrid’s greatest-ever keeper. Along with being a more complete keeper than Casillas (excelling in aerial play, ball distribution, and reflexes),...

Ranking the 10 best center midfielders of the 2010s

10Jul

By Joe SorianoNo Comments

Champions League, Features

Ranking the 10 best center midfielders of the 2010s

Throughout the 2010s, Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi was the most heated debate on the lips of world football fans, but as time has passed and the discussions have become more retrospective, much of the discussion has moved towards the midfield. It isn't just Real Madrid and Barcelona fans getting into it about their elite midfields that dominated the 2010s, as Premier League supporters, Serie A fans, and, of course, the Bayern Munich faithful are wondering where their midfield stars stack up. When looking back at the best center midfielders of the 2010s, it is no surprise to see that the teams that dominated the Champions League that decade - Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Bayern Munich - also dominate this list. It's fair to say that this observation is yet another endorsement ...