Pfew things are missing Luka Modric in his carrer. And almost all of them minor after a brilliant career in which he has won everything individually and collectively. But today at the Metropolitano he can add a new check to his brilliant career if he scores a goal in the round of 16 of the Cup. And Atlético de Madrid is one of the few rivals that resists him in the face of door. After 36 derbies it has not yet been released.
Atlético de Madrid is the rival he has faced the most times in his career, a total of 36 times. In second place appears the Barça with 33 and in third, the Athletic and Celta with 23. He has scored goals against these three teams, one each, but against those of Simeone He has never scored.
has never stood out Modric for his punch. The Croatian has 78 goals in 749 games throughout his career, but it is true that he has already scored against almost all the teams he has faced. Of the top 10, he is only resisted for now by Atlético and City, whom he has faced 17 times including the Champions and Premier duels. For this reason, today’s Metropolitan duel is even more special. Who knows if it’s the last one.
Modric will play his 37th derby tonight, with a more than positive balance. There are 16 goals, 11 draws and nine defeats that the Croatian has against the rojiblancos, against whom he has not scored but has left his mark in the form of assists. From his boots came Lisbon’s saving corner and five other assists. Decisive player in the creation phase, tonight everything indicates that he will be a starter again.
Changes in the environment
Ancelotti makes two changes tonight compared to last Sunday’s final against Barça. Luka Modric for Kroos and Camavinga for Tchouaméni. The Croatian already started a week ago in the derby and left his mark by attending Rüdiger at 1-1. From the corner he has formed a lethal partnership with the German and Ancelotti hopes to continue exploiting it tonight against Simeone’s men.
For Modric, furthermore, today’s duel has a certain aroma of revenge. The league derby played at Civitas left him a little marked after Ancelotti substituted him at half-time in the middle of the red-and-white gale. After that match, Luka went two games without playing a single minute, which set off all the alarms.
Rüdiger (1-1) in Real Madrid 5-3 Atlético de Madrid
Today all that is history and Modric is once again a decisive player for Real Madrid. His participation has been increasing as the season progresses and now he himself continues to demonstrate that he is a totally valid footballer, to the point that a new renewal could already be flying over the Santiago Bernabéu. For sporting performance there is no doubt that he deserves it. At 38 years old, Modric has already played 23 games this season, in which he has scored a goal and given five assists. In those 23 games he has started 13 times, which shows that the player is not having a residual role this season. Physically, in addition, he remains in perfect condition, being one of the few players who has avoided the plague of injuries.