Modric, Camavinga or Brahim: who should start as the third midfielder for Real Madrid against Atletico Madrid? | OneFootball

Real Madrid will travel to the Wanda Metropolitano to take on Atlético Madrid in a bid to qualify for the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

This fixture will be as tough as it gets, and the crowd will undoubtedly be hostile toward the Madrid players. Atlético are expected to come out all guns blazing since they trail by a goal and will look to cancel out Madrid’s lead as soon as possible.

For Real Madrid, their midfield will be the catalysts and play a pivotal role tonight. Jude Bellingham’s return and Aurélien Tchouaméni’s recent form will provide a boost, and much will depend on their performances.

With the French and English midfielders certain to start, it is still unknown who will be the third player in the middle. Carlo Ancelotti will have three options to decide from:

1: Luka Modric

Age is just a number for this Croatian, as he has shown this season. He has played a part in most games, usually coming off the bench.

According to Transfermarkt statistics, in the UCL, Modrić averages exactly 45 minutes per match, and in La Liga, he averages 47 minutes. Despite playing only one half on average, the 39-year-old has made sure to leave an impact in whichever game he gets an opportunity.

However, in the past month or so, Modrić has shown that he has the capability to play the entire 90 minutes and perform well while doing so.

Even in the loss against Real Betis, he was the standout performer for the Merengues, and in the next game against Atlético, the veteran had a solid 28-minute cameo appearance. In the weekend fixture against Rayo Vallecano, he recorded an assist and was the highest-rated player in the match according to Sofascore statistics.

Carlo Ancelotti mentioned that Modrić can recover well after playing the entire match against Rayo, which means it will be interesting to see whether the Croatian completes the midfield trio.

2: Eduardo Camavinga

The 22-year-old’s signing from Rennes was unexpected, as it occurred on deadline day, and not many Madridistas saw it coming.

Since then, he has played a pivotal role in Real Madrid’s last two UCL victories, and his versatility offers Ancelotti an option in defense also.

However, this season, his performances have been underwhelming, to say the least. He has had the occasional good game here and there, but other than that, there have not been any notable performances.

With Dani Ceballos’ resurgence, Camavinga has fallen out of favor, and even in the few opportunities he has had, he has been unable to make a difference – averaging 52 minutes in La Liga and 50 minutes in the UCL, respectively.

Moreover, his reckless defensive actions have led to two yellow cards in the Champions League, and he now risks suspension for the first leg of the quarter-final.

However, one factor that could put him above the other options is his physicality. This fixture will be highly physical, and Camavinga has shown in the past that he is capable of doing well on such nights. Hopefully, he can put the poor outings behind him and show the world his quality tonight.

3: Brahim Diaz

Since his arrival, Brahim has proven to be a burst of energy whenever he has been brought on, as most of the opportunities he has received have come as a substitute.

Surprisingly, the Moroccan received a start in the 1st leg against Los Colchoneros and proved to be the difference-maker.

He netted the second goal, which could potentially be the tie-decider. His ability to make quick, explosive runs and his sumptuous dribbling make him the perfect candidate for such high-intensity matches.

Even though Atlético Madrid is a goal down, their defence will be as rigid as always, and players like Brahim can create danger and opportunities to score out of nowhere.

Although the 25-year-old was recently down with a fever, he will, without a doubt, play a part in the match.

The three abovementioned names are all deserving candidates, but in my opinion – despite his recent form – Eduardo Camavinga should start as the third midfielder. His physicality can make life difficult for Atleti’s midfield, and if timed to perfection, his defensive actions will do the Real Madrid defense a world of good.