What happened: Vitinha spoke about the prospect of lining up against Luka Modric, saying the veteran midfielder is an idol to him. "I can only say that Modric is an absolute idol for me," Vitinha said of the matchup.

Why it matters: The remarks underline the reverence Modric still commands among the current generation of midfielders. For Vitinha, sharing a pitch with a player he grew up admiring adds a personal dimension to the fixture, a reminder of Modric's enduring stature in the game.

What to watch: Attention turns to how the midfield battle unfolds once the two are on the pitch together.