Koke replaces Xabi Alonso at halftime

Alonso’s always been an odd fit in Spain’s midfield -- he’s a completely unnecessary player in a midfield that includes Sergio Busquets and an advanced playmaker -- but they’ve won titles with him starting because they’ve simply had the most talented side. But talent alone doesn’t carry them anymore, and this switch is a positive one. Especially given that Alonso picked up a yellow card in the first half, could have had another and gave the ball away a few times.

Koke is a different kind of player to Alonso and should provide a spark. While Alonso sits deep without actually doing any defending, Koke is much more energetic. He’ll work harder defensively and has a knack for scoring goals from midfield.