Solari leaves Isco on the bench for the fifth game in a row
The midfielder began the season as a regular starter under Lopetegui, but since Solari took over, he has played just 51 minutes.
There's something up with Isco. The midfielder found hilself back warming the subs' bench at Ipurua today - it's the fifth time Santiago Solari has left the player out of the starting XI in the five games he has overseen as coach. Isco was a first-choice under Julen Lopetegui and started both of Spain's recent international games against Croatia and Bosnia. For Luis Enrique, he's an undisputed starter.
Overlooked under Solari
Isco didn't play a single minute of Solari's debut game in charge against Melilla in the Cup. After that he was on the bench for the league game against Valladolid, and came on for the last 34 minutes. In Plzen, against Viktoria, he was handed a 17 minute run-out and a few days later in Vigo, probably due to Casemiro and Reguilón suffering injuries, he remained on the bench. In his only tactical switch, to replace Modric, Solari brought on Ceballos.
Isco began the season as a regular starter under Lopetegui, although he was in the dug-out for the games against Leganés and Athletic. Just when he was hitting his best form, he underwent surgery to have his apendix removed and was out of action for a month. However he returned to the line-up against Levante, Viktoria Plzen at the Bernabéu and Barcelona - his last start was at Camp Nou.
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