Later today, Real Madrid play host to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions League in what will be their first game after the defeat to Barcelona at Santiago Bernabeu.
Having endured a rough time over the past week, the Merengues will be desperate to return to winning ways and inject positivity back into the dressing room. After all, there is not much room for error in the UCL.
With two European giants clashing in an epic battle, the game is bound to be dictated by high-riding passion with both sides creating chances and engaging in a highly physical duel.
Modric on alert
Real Madrid have already played Stuttgart, Lille and Borussia Dortmund in the European competition so far and Luka Modric only started the game against last year’s finalists.
Against Stuttgart and Lille, however, he earned two yellow cards which now puts his participation in danger as he is only one booking away from facing suspension.
It remains to be seen if Ancelotti counts on Modric as a starter later tonight, but the Croatian must be careful regardless of how long he plays for any simple booking will see him miss the team’s next outing which is against Liverpool at Anfield.
Atalanta, Salzburg and Brest lie ahead in the calendar for Real Madrid and the management will prefer he misses one of those games rather than the one at Anfield which will be an uphill mountain against a team in form.
In his three UCL appearances so far this season, the Real Madrid captain has one assist to his name and averages two key passes per game.
He will likely start tonight alongside Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham after Tchouameni’s poor show in El Clasico.
A late change in dynamics, however, cannot be ruled out.