They have won almost everything in the world of football. His careers, prolific, are already unrepeatable. The influence in recent years of Sergio Busquets and Luka Modric in Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, can only be measured in tons. Their brains should be preserved in formalin to be studied. Both are well over thirty, but no coach in his right mind would dare not field them in an important game. An intelligence amply shown that has allowed them to extend their careers at the highest level. And one more classic will once again be referential in the duel that is played by the center of the field.
Busquets is the king of the classics. If, as seems evident, he participates in the game, he will take another step in the history of these duels by adding 47 classics in his entire career, the absolute record. After the last match he already became, with 46, the player with the most classics behind him, surpassing Leo Messi (Barcelona) and Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), who accumulated a total of 45 matches. In the League he has played 28 games, 25 of them as a starter, and has garnered 15 wins, 4 draws and 9 losses.
The Badia midfielder has won everything both with Barça and with the national team and these weeks he is facing a possible renewal with the Barça club. After 15 seasons, the player considers whether to continue or leave the club of his life for the MLS. Busquets is part of the great generation that shone along with Xavi, Iniesta and Messi.
In front will be Luka Modric. At 37, the man from Zadar combines talent, competitiveness and experience in Real Madrid’s midfield. The validity of it is indisputable and it does not seem that he is near the end of his path. Last season he was key to achieving the double, with stellar performances in the Champions League. In this, Ancelotti has dosed it to be able to be in the key matches at the highest level.
A finalist with the Croatian team in the World Cup in Russia and a semifinalist in Qatar, Modric is also an illustrious veteran when it comes to the classics. He is the longest-serving Real Madrid player to play against Barcelona. This will be his 30th classic since he arrived at Real Madrid. Against the Catalans he has won three titles: the Super Cups in 2012 (newcomer to the club) and 2019, and the 2014 Cup.
The influence of both players will be decisive in the battle for the midfield, which in recent duels has been governed by Barça. But beyond their punctual performance, Sergio Busquets and Luka Modric are two great examples that the classics continue to be games of indisputable football significance.
