Luka Modrić confirms Barcelona motive behind Real Madrid’s win over Sevilla

Real Madrid star Luka Modrić has admitted that the recent upturn in form being enjoyed by arch rivals Barcelona played a part in the club’s motivation to get the better of Sevilla on Sunday.

The name of veteran midfielder Modrić, of course, took its place front and centre in the Spanish media headlines late last night.

As much came after the Croatian international netted the only goal of the game, to guide his side beyond a stout Sevilla outfit at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Introduced off the bench inside the closing 20 minutes of action, Modrić wasted little time in making his presence felt, driving home an unstoppable effort from just outside the penalty area.

As much means that Real now sit a full eight points clear at the summit of the La Liga table.

Speaking to the media post-match on Sunday, Modrić was in turn questioned on the keys to the latest three-point haul secured by Los Blancos.

And the former Ballon d’Or winner went on to admit that, amid mounting pressure from Xavi’s Barcelona, he and his teammates simply ‘couldn’t allow’ anything other than victory against Sevilla:

“Our persistence. We don’t stop, we insist on continuing and we create many opportunities,” Modrić explained, as cited by Mundo Deportivo. “We knew that we couldn’t miss the 3 points. Barcelona came quite close and we couldn’t allow it. In the end it has paid off, they are three very important points in this league.”

Conor Laird | GSFN