Luka Modric, incombustible in Ancelotti’s midfield

MADRID, 27 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Real Madrid announced last Monday the renewal of Luka Modric as a white player for next season, so that the Croatian midfielder will complete his twelfth season as a Real Madrid player, a club he joined from Tottenham in the summer of 2012.

Luka Modric has been and is one of the cornerstones of Real Madrid’s midfield and, despite his seniority (37 years), he continues to be a fixture in Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.

This last season, despite having played in a World Cup, the Croatian has played 52 games, starting in 35 of them, which amounts to a total of 3,165 minutes. One number that places Modric as the third most used midfielder by Ancelotti.

The performance of the Madrid ’10’ is beyond any doubt. He always appears in the key games of the season at a very high level. Modric has continued to be the catalyst for Real Madrid’s attacking game, accelerating the play with his passes and driving in attack, as well as providing his usual physical display in defence.

Modric has made a total of 2,330 passes throughout the season, in all competitions, completing 90% of them. In addition, 973 passes took place in the last third of the field, 6 of them ending in goal assists. Some numbers that, added to the 61 scoring chances created by the Croatian and the 0.95 turnovers that he averages every 90 minutes, speak of a very high level in the creation and distribution section.

To his good numbers in the pass, we must add those of completion. The Croatian captain has been the midfielder who has scored the second most goals this season with 6 goals, only surpassed by Valverde’s 12, although with a big difference, the effectiveness of Modric’s shot is higher than that of the Uruguayan, since which is the best of the white team.

But if the Croatian stands out on the pitch, it’s because of his ability to sacrifice. This means that Modric has recovered 159 balls this campaign, 27 of them in the last third, also intercepting 23 shots and winning 115 duels. Some defensive data that, despite not being the best of his career, still speaks of a great physical level.

One last campaign and some numbers that support the renewal of one of the best midfielders in the history of Real Madrid, and that next season will add his twelfth campaign in white, becoming, after the departure of Karim Benzema, the active player with most games in the history of Real Madrid.