It’s difficult to avoid negativity when discussing Real Madrid after dropping points in La Liga and losing to Manchester City in the Champions League, but Isco has been a real bright spot worth praising.
Real Madrid suffered a meltdown in the final 15 minutes of their Champions League fixture against Manchester City, but in Vinicius Junior and Isco, Los Blancos received big-game performances from two attackers who can help them turn it around in the second leg.
Vinicius was the star of the show and set up Isco’s goal with some incredible pressing on City right back Kyle Walker, and he’ll need to be trusted if Real want to have any hopes of winning the Champions League trophy.
But it’s important not to overlook Isco, who can be the catalyst for a turnaround in the second leg.
It won’t be easy for Real to score at least twice against City at the Etihad Stadium and undo their rough final 15 minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu, but if they are to find their feet in front of goal, Isco can be the one to step up.
Karim Benzema‘s slump could end at any moment, and he will be the one trusted to score goals. But Isco will also be tasked with helping out on the attacking end as both a scorer and a creator.
As a No. 10 or inverted wide man, Isco can wreak havoc in the opposition half with his passing and dribbling ability. And after receiving criticism for some inconsistent performances earlier this season, Zinedine Zidane‘s favored man has turned it around recently.
Isco’s resurgence started in January. The Spain international had a tremendous performance in Real’s 3-0 win over Valencia in the Spanish Supercup, and, per WhoScored.com, he completed five dribbles in a win over Real Valladolid.
But he saved his best for the 4-1 win over Osasuna, scoring the first goal to equalize after Los Blancos went down early. From there, he helped create chances for his teammates and was impeccable on the ball, recording three dribbles completed while also drawing two fouls.
Without Eden Hazard‘s, Isco’s role as a creator alongside Vinicius will be critical, especially against a team like City. Compound that with the 2-1 deficit in the Round of 16 draw with City, and you start to realize how much Isco matters.
Isco had four key passes in the 1-0 loss to Levante and was even better than Hazard, cementing his status as the best on the pitch in his second straight start (he did not play against Celta). And the same can be said about Isco in the Champions League with a pair of dribbles completed and three fouls drawn.
It seems like Isco steps his game up in the biggest games, and now that he’s found his groove under Zidane, Madridistas can only wonder what’s next for the 27-year-old. Real Madrid cannot be counted out of this competition, and Isco’s magical abilities are a big reason why.