Zidane spoilt for choice: 8 players vying for 3 spots against PSG
Marcelo is ready to return, but doubts remain over Kroos and Modric. Along with those two, Bale, Asensio, Isco, Lucas, Kovacic, and Ceballos are in contention.
Zinedine Zidane received good news on Thursday morning when Marcelo completed a full training session and declared himself ready to start against PSG in the Champions League last-16.
Marcelo will slot in to his usual left-back position, but there are still doubts surrounding Luka Modric and Toni Kroos. The midfield due returned to training on Sunday and have been named in the squad for the trip to Paris. If ready, both will start alongside Casemiro in midfield. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are assured of spots in attack, leaving one spot in the front three available.
Yet, given that Modric and Kroos may not be fully fit, Zidane will have three spaces up for grabs in the team, and eight candidates to fill them: Modric, Kroos, Isco, Kovacic, Ceballos, Bale, Asensio, and Lucas.
Toni Kroos
Real Madrid stated on February 16th that the Germany midfielder had suffered an ankle ligament strain and would be out of action for at least 15 days. He returned to the group on Sunday, but it remains to be seen whether he will be ready to start in Paris. Zidane will hope his match fitness is at an acceptable level. Kroos has played 2,468 minutes this season, scoring four goals and providing seven assists in the process.
Luke Modric
The Croatian – who has been accused of perjury in his home country – suffered a hamstring injury on February 20th. Like his midfield partner Kroos, he returned to training on Sunday and Zidane will be eager to play him from the start on Tuesday. The 32-year-old has played 2,391 minutes this campaign, scoring twice and laying on three goals for others. He was superb in the first leg at the Bernabéu.
Mateo Kovacic
He shone in the summer with two man-marking displays on Lionel Messi in the Spanish Super Cup. Injury then struck and Kovavic watched from the stands for two months. He did not regain his rhythm immediately upon his return, and when Zidane charged him with another man-marking job on Messi in LaLiga, he was marooned in midfield. He has not been in his best form since then, but still represents a very capable replacement if Modric or Kroos is unable to start. He has provided three assists in 1,201 minutes.
Isco
Isco started the first leg in Madrid and was solid, if a little unspectacular. He worked hard defensively and was an important creative outlet when Unai Emery’s side tried to tighten up. If either Kroos or Modric is not ready, Isco will be assured of a starting berth. He has scored seven goals in 2,264 minutes, in addition to six assists.
Gareth Bale
If Isco has the advantage of having played in the first leg, the opposite is true for Bale. He was on the bench for the 3-1 win on Valentine’s Day, and a perceived surly attitude has not helped his cause since then. He shone against Álaves, but stumbled through the matches against Real Betis, Levante, and Espanyol. His numbers are good (ten goals and seven assists in 1,513 minutes), but the feeling is that he will not start. Fitness concerns in the midfield may earn him a spot, but he will be welded to the wing with the strict remit of helping out his full-back.
Marco Asensio
The defeat to Espanyol applied the brakes to his progression after a double against Real Betis strengthened his case for a place in the XI. That said, his directness could be a vital asset in a match that Madrid are likely to play on the counter-attack. When Zidane has shown faith in him – like in the Spanish Super Cup victory over Barça – he has repaid that. Asensio has played 2,023 minutes, scored ten goals and provided eight assists.
Lucas Vázquez
He may go under the radar at times, but Lucas has been one of Madrid’s most effective players this season: scoring seven goals and assisting 12 in just 1,840 minutes. He does damage in attack and is diligent in defence. For that reason, he would be a good option to nullify the probable combination of Kylian Mbappé and Layvin Kurzawa on PSG’s left side. Like Asensio, he is a player well suited to galloping forward on the counter-attack.
Dani Ceballos
The 21-year-old is a long-shot for a starting berth. Ceballos has found opportunities few and far between in his first season at Madrid. He probably expected to chance to be scarce, but not this scarce. He’s a hard-working midfielder who will cut out long passes from the PSG defence, and his technical ability means he is always good on the ball. Even if it from the bench, he could be a useful option in the Parc des Princes.
