Barcelona vs Real Madrid - El Clasico combined XI

Barcelona vs Real Madrid – El Clasico combined XI

Barcelona's Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (R) vies with Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo during the Spanish league 'Clasico' football match Real Madrid CF vs FC Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 23, 2014. Barcelona won 4-3. AFP PHOTO/ GERARD JULIEN (Photo credit should read GERARD JULIEN/AFP/Getty Images) /

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MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 26: Luka Rodric of Real Madrid looks on during the La Liga match between Real Madrid CF and Real Sporting de Gijon at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on November 26, 2016 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) /

Centre Midfield – Luka Modric, Real Madrid

There was a poll taken at the end of 2012 which suggested Luka Modric’s move from Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid that year, worth around $40million, was one of the worst transfers of the season.

Nowadays, such an opinion would be laughed right out-of-town. The Croatian is often called a magician and has become central to the way Los Blancos play. It started well for him under Jose Mourinho, but under Carlo Ancelotti and Zinedine Zidane, he has really come into his own.

Whenever he’s injured, he is sorely missed. When he plays, he can be the instigator of a victory.

He was always very highly rated at Spurs, doing a similar job under Harry Redknapp at White Hart Lane. If Real push on this weekend, as they are favourites to do, they will need this genuinely world-beating central midfielder to be on top form.

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