Real Madrid: Isco's magical month of April
The former-Málaga man has completed 155 of 157 attempted passes across three games this month, and was key in the Champions League win against Juventus.
Isco has been in efficient form for Real Madrid so far in April. Zinedine Zidane’s side have played three matches this month: in the first they drew 1-1 with Atlético in the Madrid derby, before then eliminating Juventus from the Champions League over two legs.
Isco pass master
The statistics reveal that Isco has been heavily involved. The 25-year-old has completed 155 or the 157 passes attempted, which equates to a 98.7% success rate. That is far higher than his average success rate of 89.6% across the course of the season, and may explain why he has recovered a starting position in the Real Madrid team.
In Madrid’s 0-3 demolition of Juventus in Turin, Isco was flawless with the ball at his feet. He completed all 54 of his attempted passes, and provided the assist for Cristiano Ronaldo’s opening goal. He kept up the 100% pass success rate against Atlético, although he only completed 31 passes after coming on as a substitute with 18 minutes remaining.
Madrid scraped through to the Champions League semi-finals despite losing 1-3 to Juventus at the Bernabéu. Yet Isco was at the top of the pile in terms of pass completion with 97.2% of 72 attempted passes finding their target, ahead of Toni Kroos (97%), Casemiro (95.2%) and Luka Modric (94.8%). He also found the net in that match, but it was narrowly ruled out for offside before Cristiano Ronaldo ended proceedings with a dramatic last-minute penalty.
Málaga v Real Madrid may come too soon
Isco cut a frustrated figure at the end of March. He was a key part of Julen Lopetegui’s Spain side, but could not replicate that form at club level. He appears to be moving up through the gears at the right time.
Real Madrid travel to Málaga- Isco’s hometown club – on Sunday evening, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale remaining in the Spanish capital. It is likely that Isco will start on the bench after suffering a knock in training on Saturday.
