Gabi: 'Luka Modric is Real Madrid's star man'

Atletico Madrid captain Gabi has claimed that Luka Modric is more important to Real Madrid than the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Atletico will welcome La Liga leaders Real Madrid to the Vicente Calderon on Saturday night in the first Madrid derby of the 2016-17 campaign.

Modric has declared himself fit to take part after overcoming a knee problem, and Gabi has claimed that the Croatian midfielder is the Los Blancos player that his team fear the most.

"That Madrid are making a massive effort to recover their top players speaks a lot about what we are doing and how they view us," Gabi told reporters at a charity event.

"With Modric, they have recovered their best player - he's the one who makes them play and gives the team balance. We'll try to counter his playmaking skills."

Atletico have lost two of their last three in the league and will enter this weekend's clash six points behind table-toppers Real Madrid after 11 matches of the season.