Isco's Emergence and 5 Reasons Why Real Madrid Have Turned Their Season Around

For the second time this calendar year, Real Madrid completed La Decima on Wednesday evening by recording a 4-1 win over UE Cornella in the Copa del Rey.

This Decima, though, wasn't the Decima Florentino Perez had been craving for a decade.

This one was a different kind: 10 wins in a row in all competitions.

It's the first time in his tenure as Madrid boss that Carlo Ancelotti has completed this feat, and it followed on from back-to-back league defeats.

Those losses to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid, coupled with derby gloom in the Spanish Super Cup, had led to some early criticism of Los Blancos.

Had they erred in signing James Rodriguez and Toni Kroos?

Was it unwise to let Xabi Alonso and Angel Di Maria leave?

Ten games later, though, and with Madrid one point behind Barcelona and flying in the Champions League, all those early doubts have been expelled.

The following slides look at the reasons why.

1. Isco's Run of Form

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Chants of "Iiiiisco, Iiiiisco" filled the Barcelona skies on Wednesday evening as Isco himself trotted over to take a corner in front of the Real Madrid fans.

Los Blancos were in Catalan territory to take on third-tier side UE Cornella in the Copa del Rey, and Isco, for the third time in a week, was once again at the top of his game.

He may not have scored but he delivered the corner for the second goal in the 4-1 win, worked hard defensively and was the best player in the final third.

In his opinion piece for AS, in Spanish, Tomas Roncero said that at least 7,000 people go to matches just to watch Isco play: "Iscomania is a social phenomenon which can't be stopped."

Ancelotti is impressed, too.

“He is a player who is plugged in and he works for the team, and runs," Carlos Forjanes of AS reported the Italian as saying. "It’s the best time he has had since I have been in Madrid and I hope he continues with his pace and his attitude.”

Isco may not have featured heavily in Madrid's 10-match winning streak, but he's played a significant part since returning to the starting line-up against Levante.

2. Formation Changes

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In the absence of Gareth Bale, Real Madrid have switched from a 4-3-3 to a 4-4-2.

Although, formations are much more flexible than that these days, as Marti Perarnau points out in his recently released book, Pep Confidential: "No match plan could ever convey the complexity of the organisation of a football team."

Madrid certainly look to be playing in a different shape recently, though, with Isco and James Rodriguez playing wider of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos—or, as was the case on Wednesday, Sami Khedira and Asier Illarramendi.

It's pushed Cristiano Ronaldo further forward alongside Karim Benzema, with Javier Hernandez taking Ronaldo's place against UE Cornella.

Ancelotti has said the switch has improved his side's solidity, per Forjanes: “The 4-4-2 is a system that does well defensively, which helps us press better when we don’t have the ball. In attack we put a player out on the wing.”

But it's not so much the formation switch which has enable Madrid's 10-match winning streak, more the surprise it brings with it.

Ancelotti now has several tried-and-tested shapes he can use depending on the game, the opposition and the players he has available to him.

3. Modric and Kroos

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Something must be going right when a Barcelona-based newspaper is lamenting the fact Barca missed out on the signing of Real Madrid players.

Lluis Mascaro, writing for Sport, voiced his discontent that the Catalan club decided not to pursue Madrid's two central midfielders, Kroos and Modric, when they were available.

With neither being particularly heralded for their defensive contribution, it was easy to suggest the partnership would not be a successful one.

And while those doubts may still remain, they're disappearing with each Madrid win.

At Anfield and in the Clasico, they were head and shoulders above of players they may once have aspired to replicate—the likes of Steven Gerrard and Xavi—and their strengths are completely glossing over any weaknesses they may have.

"[Barca] have let players, who could have been vital, escape and become significant players for Los Blancos," Mascaro wrote.

Quite.

4. Cristiano

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One, three, four, one, one, three, two, one, one, didn't play.

Seventeen.

That's been Cristiano Ronaldo's record in the 10 matches Real Madrid have played since their season stuttered against Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid: 17 goals in nine games.

Ronaldo's goalscoring feats isn't a topic which needs labouring—it's there for all to see—but it's relevant when looking at how Madrid have gone on a 10-game winning run.

Of course, with the Portuguese star in the side, they were never likely to be down in the dumps for too long.

5. Togetherness

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As if it wasn't clear already, this Real Madrid has a completely different spirit than the one Jose Mourinho left behind.

Last season's Champions League win helped, but even before then, the moaning and the leaks had largely disappeared.

There is belief which seems to run through the squad right now and a togetherness which seems to keep the players who aren't playing still happy.

Isco, who's spent time out of the side this season, has come in and into the team with a desire to work hard and prove himself—and he has.

Raphael Varane has done the same.

At the other end of the age spectrum, when things have gone against Iker Casillas and the press and fans have turned on him, the goalkeeper's manager and team-mates have stuck by him.

Ancelotti deserves a lot of credit for the harmony which is currently running through the club.