Isco Earning His Own Galactico Tag at Real Madrid Ahead of El Clasico

Real Madrid's 3-0 Champions League win over Liverpool in midweek saw the reigning European champions dismantle their group opponents and then sit back in the second half, having themselves something of a deserved rest ahead of a huge domestic battle at the weekend in El Clasico.

One of the stars of that first 45 minutes, though, was one of the same stars of recent domestic games—but not Cristiano Ronaldo, Toni Kroos or any other recent summer signing, but Spanish playmaker Isco.

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The attacking midfielder was signed last year as a flagship purchase for Real's ideal future, built around the biggest national talents, and although he ended the season out of the regular starting XI, Isco still had a tangible effect on the season, netting 11 goals in total. In the current campaign, he once more began the season out of Carlo Ancelotti's preferred starting lineup, but has eased his way into the team of late as injuries, rotation and the need to alter tactics somewhat have worked in his favour.

Fair to say, Isco has taken his chance, and taken his game to another level.

With his technique, ease of control of the ball and capacity to find and make spaces to receive the ball in, Isco is comfortable and adaptable in a number of positions which suit Ancelotti perfectly. Whether from the left side of the midfield line in the recent 4-4-2 or further forward in the attacking line of three, he is an outlet from deep and a good link player with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

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He brings balance to the side, isn't afraid to stay wide and open the pitch—in the knowledge that Kroos, Luka Modric and others will still look for him—but is also improving on picking his moments to run infield, too, leaving space for the overlapping full-backs to dart into.

Infield is where he would prefer to have the biggest impact, of course, perhaps playing as the No. 10 in his "true" role, but the adaptability he is showing is far more important for getting minutes on the pitch than any ideas of being a central attacker on a regular basis.

Still, his final pass often comes from central areas, as that's where he looks to run in possession. Creative and incisive, with good ability to read the movement of others, Isco is a very real source of chances for the front players with his quick, low passes into the box, from which he invariably makes another run to receive the ball back—even if it doesn't always come.

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His 1.3 key passes per appearance is comparable with Modric and Gareth Bale (both 1.4, per WhoScored), but with five of Isco's eight league showing coming off the bench, his key passes per 90 minutes is far more impressive—and he's averaging an assist every 87 minutes, as opposed to 294 mins for Modric, 226 for James Rodriguez, 201 for Bale and 171 for Kroos.

In addition, Isco's time at Malaga showed he knows where the goal is—double figures last season wasn't a fluke, nor will it be this year when he begins to fire in a few more, although it seems he is in a more creative rather than finishing-off role right now.

Isco might not be classed as one of the new Galacticos in the general media at present on account of the resonance of his name, but by the size of his performances he's absolutely on the right path to being one. There's no better platform for him to show that than El Clasico.

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