After the injury of Camavinga, Ancelotti will have to look at some old acquaintances whose prominence had fallen this season but who have now become essential: Modric and Kroos.

Obviously they are not both in the same bag: they both started as substitutes in the first league matchday, in San Mamés, but Kroos soon took a place in the permanent eleven; he has already accumulated 889 minutes this season and has been a starter in the important matches (Real Sociedad, Atlético, Girona, Napoli, Sevilla, Barcelona); Modric's case is much more serious, since he has played only 647 minutes and was a substitute in the Diego Armando Maradona, in the Clásico, in the Pizjuán.

Some conclusions have been drawn based on the facts that the time of Modric and Kroos seemed to have passed, at least as a midfield pair. Their joint participation this season has been limited so far: they have only played in ten games on the field, and in total, they have only played 227 minutes together. Added to this is the role that Ancelotti has given to the duo, much more focused on controlling the matches in the second half than on starting them: they have only started together once, in the Metropolitano derby, and the result at half-time (2-1 for Atleti; the white goal was from Kroos) led Carletto to withdraw Modric and put Joselu in his place. The rest of their joint appearances have been facing the end of the duels, with the team more focused on getting organized and not conceding than on damaging the rival: during those 227 minutes, Real Madrid scored six goals and conceded four, with an almost neutral balance (+2).

However, the current situation gives the veteran duo an extra life: Camavinga will not be ready until the end of January, Tchouameni is not expected until 2024 starts, and Ceballos, even if he reaches the next match in Cádiz, will do so with a lack of rhythm after a string of injuries. The saying goes: with honest gray hair, there are no closed doors. And Real Madrid's eleven is now wide open for Modric and Kroos.

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