Zidane splits up Modric and Kroos Real Madrid Just once have they both started in the past six matches

One of the most interesting aspects of Zinedine Zidane's most recent line-ups is the fact that the Frenchman has been splitting up Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.

In the six matches of the past month, they've only both started on one occasion.

Apart from when they both started against Levante, only one has taken to the field from the off.

Basically, when Zidane starts one of them he rests the other.

Against Barcelona, Celta Vigo and Real Sociedad, Kroos started and Modric was left out.

Against Manchester City and Osasuna, Modric started and Kroos was left out.

Before this run of matches came the Madrid derby, when Zidane started with five midfielders and didn't like what he saw in the first half at all and decided to take off Kroos and Isco at half time, leaving Modric, Casemiro and Fede Valverde to keep running the midfield.

Some of these decisions can be put down to the need for rotation, but that can't be considered the reason for the decisions to leave the German out against Manchester City and to leave the Croatian out against Barcelona.

There must be a tactical reason behind this, perhaps based on the growing importance of Valverde and Isco.

It was Casemiro, Kroos and Modric who played together through the three-in-a-row Champions League run, but now this trio has been broken up.

For now, it's Casemiro plus just one of these beloved midfielders.