They say form is temporary but class is permanent. And Real Madrid boast of having arguably one of the classiest midfield set up in the world.
The trio of Kroos, Casemiro and Modric once undisputedly ruled Europe, during Zidane’s first run in charge of Real Madrid. With the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo, things have become more unstable, but the trio is finally showing their best form.
Kroos and Casemiro are in their peak years, at 30 and 28 years old respectively. Modric, at 35, shows no signs of slowing down and still manages to stay fit and deliver outstanding performances every single week at Madrid.
The Croatian was one of the main reasons behind Los Blancos’ victory over their city rivals, Atletico Madrid. Modric’s heat map showed him dominating the heart of the park as Zinedine Zidane managed to win 2-0 against the champions-elect this season.
Casemiro’s importance to the side became clear as day due to his recent spell on the sidelines owing to injury and COVID-19. Madrid have shown defensive composure since his return to the team, and have also managed to keep goals from being conceded.
The Brazilian is essential to Madrid due to the shielding effect that he offers to the centre-backs. No matter who is playing behind him, if Casemiro does not provide protection to the backline when Madrid lose the ball in dangerous areas, they are prone to get stung on the counter-attack.
Moreover, he also has an eye for goal and has been involved in quite a few vital goal sequences for the team.
Kroos is the mastermind behind Madrid’s midfield, providing leadership and building plays from absolutely unexpected areas to create chances for the forwards. His quality from set-pieces is one of the best aspects of his game, and it is something that will be vital for the team going forward this season.
