Luka Modric showcased his enduring brilliance with a magnificent late goal against Sevilla, propelling Real Madrid to a commanding eight-point lead at the summit of La Liga.
Despite the absence of England midfielder Jude Bellingham for Real Madrid in his third consecutive match, the game appeared destined for a stalemate.
However, the 38-year-old Croatian midfielder, Modric, delivered a moment of magic just seven minutes after coming on as a substitute, curling in a sublime strike.
Modric has only started in 11 of his 21 La Liga appearances this season, raising questions about his playing time. With his contract set to expire in June, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti acknowledged that Modric may feel disappointed with his limited opportunities.
“He shows everyone how hard it is for me to leave him on the bench,” Ancelotti said.
“Not just for the goal he scored, but for how he trains. He is an example to the whole squad. It’s very complicated to leave him on the bench.”
Ancelotti said Modric’s contract situation was also “complicated,” adding: “It’s hard to manage. I was once a player and went through it in my last year as a professional player.
“I would understand if Modric was a little bit upset if he is not playing. Everyone thinks he is at the end of his career, but I think he doesn’t agree with that. He looks to be well, fresh. He’s got legs. He doesn’t seem like he is 38.”
Before Modric’s decisive goal, Lucas Vazquez saw his effort disallowed for the hosts due to a VAR review. The Real Madrid full-back’s goal was nullified after the review determined that home defender Nacho had committed a foul on forward Youssef En-Nesyri during the build-up.
Despite Federico Valverde hitting the post early in the second half for Carlo Ancelotti’s side, Sevilla’s defense, led by former Real Madrid stalwart Sergio Ramos, remained resolute.
Barcelona, currently in second place with 57 points, are closely followed by Girona, who are one point behind. Girona will play their postponed fixture against Rayo Vallecano on Monday (20:00 GMT), providing them with an opportunity to close the gap on the top two teams.