Luka Modric arrives as Real Madrid face Barcelona in Spanish Super Cup
Modric waits in the wings as Mourinho seek to halt slide by overturning deficit against Barca
A Spanish Super Cup comeback against arch-rivals Barcelona and the arrival of Croatia playmaker Luka Modric may provide the perfect springboard for Real Madrid to kick-start their season.
Jose Mourinho's stuttering side, still seeking a first league win of the season, need to overturn a 3-2 deficit from last week's first leg when they host Barca at the Bernabeu tonight.
Sunday's shock 2-1 reverse at city neighbours Getafe came after a 1-1 home draw with Valencia in their opening La Liga game.
An angry Mourinho did not mince his words in the post-match news conference, calling it a "horrible" game against Getafe.
Real deserved to lose and their performance was unacceptable, the Portuguese coach said, adding he was particularly concerned by the two goals conceded against Valencia and Getafe from dead-ball situations.
"We tried to do our best but we agree with the coach that it wasn't a good performance," Madrid captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas said after the defeat to Getafe. "It's a game to forget and we have to focus on the next. Now it's the Super Cup and we'll have the perfect chance to pick ourselves up and forget these three matches."
Real announced on Monday that they had agreed to sign Modric from Tottenham Hotspur on a five-year contract, and the 26-year-old's creativity and guile are what Mourinho's side have been missing this season.