Real Madrid have seen their midfield undergo an important transformation in recent weeks following tactical tweaks from Jose Mourinho.
The Portuguese manager spent the first couple of months of the season without finding the right balance in midfield.
However, the emergence of Bernardo Silva as a central figure and his partnership with Aurelien Tchouameni have been fruitful for Los Blancos .
According to MARCA (h/t Madrid Zone ), Jose Mourinho is expected to maintain that continuity and start Bernardo and Tchouameni as the double pivot against Racing Santander.
The decision would see Mourinho continue with a midfield combination that offers complementary qualities: Bernardo's technical control and Tchouameni's defensive prowess.
The Frenchman has always thrived at the base of midfield, using his physical presence and ball-winning ability to disrupt opposition attacks.
What he is not that comfortable doing is being tasked with progressing the ball. That is where Bernardo Silva comes in.
Aurelien Tchouameni is an expert at doing the dirty work in midfield. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
The Portuguese midfielder is very comfortable with the ball at his feet and can support Tchouameni effectively in that role.
With Jude Bellingham further ahead in midfield and Arda Guler on the right flank, the set-up gives Madrid much better control in midfield.
The impact of Bernardo Silva's inclusion in the starting line-up is best captured by one statistic comparing games with and without him.
Excluding El Clasico , Los Blancos have averaged 57% possession in games with Bernardo and 47% in games without him.
This illustrates the kind of control the Portuguese midfielder can add to the team better than any words can.
Bernardo Silva has had a transformative effect on Real Madrid. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
While possession also depends on the kind of opposition and the game state, there is no doubt that the former Manchester City star has had a role to play.
The new midfield partnership now faces another test against Jose Alberto's Racing Santander, who will look to play aggressively.
It is good to see Mourinho looking to maintain continuity with a formula that seems to be rewarding the team with success.
It remains to be seen whether the duo start in the official line-up and how they fare at El Sardinero later tonight.
