With Toni Kroos and Casemiro still out injured, Luka Modric must step in and reclaim the baton against an always resolute Atletico in the Madrid derby. His runs from midfield and his almost unparalleled way of breaking pressure is sure to disrupt any plans Atleti coach Diego Simeone has of containing him. The club as an institution know Modric's true worth, a contract extension until 2020 acting as proof, and so do the fans, who gave him a standing ovation after an eagerly anticipated and much needed return from injury. "With Modric, Real get back their best man," Gabi said ahead of Saturday's derby, well aware of the midfielder's importance to Zinedine Zidane's side.
The rest of the midfield second-choice, Modric will have to step up against the Rojiblancos, which he has already done in both Champions League finals between the two sides. The derbies in the league haven't gone as well for the 31-year-old, however, going six of the last match-ups without a win, so Modric will be looking to make up for that in an absence-filled, yet not any less exciting, showdown at the Estadio Vicente Calderon on the weekend.Croatia's 2-0 win over Iceland helped Luka Modric to continue his return to match fitness, with the 31-year-old hoping to start for Real Madrid in next Saturday's derby against Atletico Madrid. Replacing his club teammate Mateo Kovacic at half-time, the Ballon d'Or candidate helped his national team grind out all three World Cup qualifying points in front of an empty Stadion Maksimir, with FIFA having issued the Croatian FA with a stadium closure punishment.Marcelo Brozovic - who also scored the opener in the first half - benefitted from Modric's introduction as he set the Inter player up for the victory-clinching second in stoppage time.
The Croatia No.10 - who wore the captain's armband when he entered the fray - also had a chance to mark his substitute appearance with a goal, but Hannes Thor Halldorsson saved his effort. With the win, the Croatians sit top of Group I with 10 points from four matches.Perhaps inevitable given the 31-year-old's salience to his country's attempts to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, Modric nonetheless hasn't played since October 2 due to a knee injury that required surgery. Real Madrid are in constant communication with Croatia's medical team to gauge the player's fitness, with Los Blancos preferring to keep hold of their key midfielder ahead of the Madrid derby on November 19. However, the Adriatic nation are determined to bring in Modric when the squad meet up next Monday for their own assessment, regardless of whether he's able to feature in Madrid's match with Leganes on the weekend. Due to be confirmed in the coming hours, Real midfielder Mateo Kovacic will also be called up after scoring the equaliser in last night's match with Legia Warsaw.
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