Isco is Real Madrid's forgotten man under Zinedine Zidane
The midfielder hasn't started a match since August 9 against Sevilla and has played only 57 minutes in the league so far this season.
Isco has been the primary victim of Zinedine Zidane’s rotation policy at Real Madrid. The Frenchman has been eager to share out playing time in the early stages of the season and more or less the entire squad has had a chance to in the starting 11, but the former Málaga man has been firmly rooted to the bench. Isco has fallen so far down the pecking order that he is currently seventh choice for Zidane’s midfield.
Last start against Sevilla in August
Isco hasn’t started for Real Madrid since August 9 against Sevilla in the European Supercup. On that occasion, Toni Kroos was unavailable as he had only just joined up with the squad while Luka Modric and James Rodríguez started on the bench as they had returned late after the Euros and the Copa América. Since then, Isco has all but disappeared.
Zidane's first choice
Zidane’s furst choice midfield is settled, Casemiro, Kroos and Modric the undisputed starters, but the Brazilian’s medium-term injury has opened up a space in the middle. Marco Asensio has started five games, Mateo Kovacic four and James three. Isco has found himself sidelined and is 20th in the squad in terms of minutes played.
57 minutes in the league this season
Although he missed two matches (Celta and Osasuna) through injury, Isco has been available for seven but only started against Sevilla. In the other six he has been left out three times (he wasn’t in the squad against Sporting and was an unused substitute against Villarreal and Dortmund). In the other three he has played just 57 minutes (19 against Real Sociedad, 28 against Espanyol and 10 against Las Palmas).
With injuries and fatigue taking their toll, Isco will have another chance to push for a start when Eibar visit on Sunday.