Isco Set to Miss Real Madrid's La Liga Opener

Spanish playmaker Isco is set to miss Real Madrid's first game of the 2020/21 La Liga season against Real Sociedad after picking up a short-term injury.

Isco has struggled for a consistent run in Zinedine Zidane's first-choice XI throughout last season. This lack of regular playing time has been due to both injury and the promising development of Madrid's Brazilian forwards Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo.

The four-time Champions League winner did make four starts in the club's final seven league outings as Zidane rotated his attacking roster on the way to the La Liga title. Although Isco was left on the bench as Madrid bowed out to Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16, despite scoring the opener in the first leg at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Isco will not have a chance to restate his claim for a regular starting berth come the beginning of the 2020/21 season after spraining his ankle, according to the Spanish publication Marca.

The injury saw Isco miss Tuesday's training session and is set to keep him out for around ten days.

Real Sociedad were one of the form sides prior to the season's three-month hiatus, sitting in the Champions League places after 27 games played. However, one of the players who was instrumental to that success - Martin Odegaard - may very well prove to be the man who benefits from Isco's absence. The 21-year-old playmaker returned to Madrid following a successful loan spell with Real Sociedad last season.

Had the recently announced La Liga fixture list not been rejigged so that Real Madrid's clash with fellow capital side Getafe was postponed, Los Blancos would have been with Isco for two matches.

As it stands, Madrid's number 22 should have recovered by the club's second game - an away trip to Real Betis.