GDS: Running, focus, calm – how Modric won ‘challenge of the great’ with De Bruyne

Luka Modric not only won for AC Milan last night, but he won on an individual level, too, as he beat Kevin De Bruyne in their own battle. 

Leading up to last night’s game, there was a lot said about a battle of the ‘maestri’. De Bruyne and Modric, two midfielders who defined generations for their previous clubs, both spent periods as the best European midfielder, if not the best player.

Gazzetta dello Sport described them as ‘two old wizards’, 40 and 34 years old, respectively. New shirts but the same magic, but the Croatian proved to be too much for his Neapolitan counterpart.

Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

Modric reigns supreme

Technically and physically, Modric won on the pitch. Then, when De Bruyne came off, his reaction garnered attention from Antonio Conte. In every sense, pretty much, the Milan wizard won. He was decisive in the game, playing all of the 97 minutes on Sunday night.

A late block denied a possible equaliser from David Neres, whilst his final kick of the game secured all three points in the last seconds of the game. A decisive performance, one of a champion, perhaps.

De Bruyne’s struggles

De Bruyne, on the other hand, played a lesser role. His set-pieces were still fantastic, as was his range of passing. He scored the penalty to make the game 2-1, and as Gazetta states, he could well be a champion still in five years.

However, he seemed slow in key moments, and ‘never truly threatened’. All this whilst Modric looked a man at his peak. A new role puts him in front of the defence, yet Allegri can see his maestro everywhere, involved in everything. Omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent.