Zidane ignores Isco on the big occasions
Zinedine Zidane overlooked Isco once again as Real Madrid fell to a dramatic to Barcelona in El Clásico, with Lionel Messi stealing the show.Real Madrid v. Fuenlabrada live online
When the big occasions come calling, Zinedine Zidane does not place his confidence in Isco.
The Malagueño midfielder was an unused substitute on Sunday evening, as Barcelona won El Clásico 2-3 with a sensational last-minute goal by Lionel Messi.
El Clásico absence
The French coach used all three of his substitutes, but Madrid’s number 22 was unmoved in the dugout. Isco did not feature despite an early injury to Gareth Bale (Asensio replaced him on 39 minutes), while Zidane opted for James to make an impact when Madrid were trailing 1-2. With Casemiro treading on eggshells following an early yellow card, Zidane favoured Kovacic over Isco.
Isco’s omission was particularly surprising given his impressive recent performances in the absence of Gareth Bale through injury. He won plaudits for a classy display at Sporting Gijón, scoring two goals.
Isco overlooked in key games
This situation is representative of Zidane’s selection policy this season. Isco does not play in the important matches. In Madrid’s ten most important clashes this campaign, he has played just 36.88% of the minutes.
Those ten matches comprise the league matches against Barcelona and Atlético, the two finals Real Madrid have contested this season (European Super Cup and World Club Cup), as well as the matches against Napoli and Bayern in the knockout rounds of the Champions League. Isco started in four of those ten matches, and has generally had to rely on injuries to other players, in order to earn a chance.
His chances have been scarce in the Champions League, playing just 148 minutes (16.44% of the total available). Only Coentrao and Mariano have featured less.
More minutes against La Liga strugglers
By contrast, Isco has featured far more regularly against the three teams that currently occupy the relegation spots in La Liga: Osasuna, Granada, and Sporting Gijón. In those matches, the silky playmaker has played 65.83%. Zidane also opted for Isco in the Cup matches against lower-league opposition, Cultural Leonesa.
With Isco’s future at the Bernabéu the subject of much discussion recently, amid reported interest from Barcelona, he appears to remain a peripheral figure in Zinedine Zidane’s plans.
