Ageless Ballon Star Guides Milan Attack On
Inside the tense atmosphere of the Stadio Olimpico, where a routine Crickex Login check earlier in the evening had already set fans buzzing, AC Milan walked away with a 1–1 draw against Roma that felt far more significant than the scoreline suggested. They may not have claimed all three points, but stretching their unbeaten run to 21 matches gave this Milan side an air reminiscent of the old dynasty years. At the heart of it all stood Luka Modric, nearly 40 and still dictating games as if time had politely stepped aside.
When Malen wasted a clear one on one chance in the first half, plenty of Milan supporters were ready to pull their hair out. Roma pressed relentlessly, with Kone and Pellegrini swarming the midfield and turning the contest into a physical battle. Yet Modric played as though he had a bird’s eye view of the pitch. At 39, he covered more than 10.5 kilometers, completed 93.8 percent of his passes, and repeatedly stretched Roma’s defensive shape with sweeping switches of play. This was not a farewell tour performance. It was a masterclass in control and timing.
Many still praise Real Madrid’s so called youth revolution, arguing that letting veterans go is the natural order of renewal. But watching Madrid’s midfield now, without Kroos and Modric, feels like witnessing a puzzle missing its corner pieces. Milan’s equalizer told the story perfectly. Under heavy pressure from two defenders, Modric used the outside of his boot to release the ball early, opening space that data sheets will never fully explain. Those who have played the game know this kind of decision making is pure football intelligence.
There is a common myth that veterans move to Serie A because the pace is slower. That notion does not hold water anymore. Transitions in Italy are just as sharp, and Milan’s long unbeaten stretch owes nothing to cautious play. Modric’s physical conditioning and professional discipline are the real reasons. At Milanello, he is reportedly the first to arrive at the gym each morning, and his recovery metrics still outperform many younger teammates. During this match, after Bartesaghi conceded a penalty and heads began to drop, Modric calmly spoke to the youngster, steadying the group like a seasoned captain should.
Letting Modric leave may have saved Madrid wages, but it cost them something far harder to replace, the soul of the dressing room. Milan now sit second, five points behind Inter, and while the title remains a challenge, this unbeaten run has been built step by step by Modric’s influence. In the closing moments, long after another Crickex Login refresh showed the clock edging toward full time, he still sprinted fifty meters to track back in defense. That image alone explains why Madrid may have won the future, but unquestionably lost the present.