5 Reasons why Real Madrid lost to Girona

#3 Luka Modric's absence

Luka Modric was absent through suspension

You never really know the value of something until you lose it and this is a perfect anecdote to Real Madrid in the loss against Girona.

For seven seasons, Luka Modric has held it down in the Madrid midfield, helping them win matches with his assured control from the middle and world-class passing abilities.

His displays have earned him worldwide accolades, with the Croat being the man to finally break the hegemony Ronaldo and Messi had on the individual awards when he became the first man in over a decade to win the Ballon d'Or in addition to triumphs in the FIFA and UEFA Best awards.

However, for all his brilliance, a lot of people expressed worry over his age and the need for Real Madrid to let him go.

Luka Modric started the season slowly, which laid credence to this assertion, but in recent weeks, the 333-year-old has been back to his imperious best, dictating play from midfield and being one of the chief instigators of Real's recent resurgence.

He, however, was absent due to a yellow card picked up last week against Atletico Madrid (his fifth of the season) which saw him suspended for one match.

In his absence, Real struggled to impose themselves in midfield, as his replacement on the day Dani Ceballos cannot say to be near the level of Luka Modric, while Toni Kroos and Casemiro were overrun in midfield by Johnny and Borja Garcia.

Following their capitulation in his absence, fans of Real Madrid would be eager to get Luka back within the fold and you can be sure that with his return would come that midfield dominance which is essential to success on the pitch.