Real Madrid: MOTM Toni Kroos scores on his 100th appearance in the Champions League
By Ben Sundock
18 minutes in, German maestro Toni Kroos scored the first and only goal for Real Madrid in route to a clean sheet victory over Galatasaray. The goal gave Zinedine Zidane’s men their first victory in the Champions League group stage and was a milestone goal for Kroos.
26 total shots and 12 on target would make you assume that Real Madrid managed to score four or five against an inferior side. But, it seems goalkeeper Fernando Muslera did not get the memo.
The Gala net-minder stood on his head for much of the crucial match against Los Blancos on Tuesday night, and had it not been for a helpful deflection off of midfielder Jean Michaël Seri, the visitors from Spain might have never found that decisive goal.
Helping Real Madrid jump from a tie for last to second in the group at the midway point, Toni Kroos made his 100th career Champions League appearance and made it a memorable one at that.
The German World Cup winner became just the fifth player ever to score on his 100th UCL appearance and joined a world class list of players.
100 - Toni Kroos is the 5th player to score on his 100th appearance in the #UCL, after Thierry Henry, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Andrea Pirlo and Cristiano Ronaldo. List.
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 22, 2019
Toni was fantastic working in the midfield with Casemiro and Fede Valverde and with outlets on the wings in Rodrygo and Eden Hazard, the engine that drives Zidane’s squad was once again running soundly from kickoff to the final whistle.
Though Kroos’ offensive numbers have never dazzled, it is worth noting that he scored just once all of last season in 40 appearances. This season, however, Toni has made a concerted effort to join in on the attack more and more and he has already tallied twice in 11 appearances while also providing two assists.
Toni Kroos has never been a regular scorer in the Champions League either. This was his ninth career goal in international cup competition and just his third since joining Real Madrid in the fall of 2014.
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It will be a match that Kroos will never forget and it was fitting he score making an impressive 100th appearance in the best club competition on the face of the planet. His leadership in the squad and his ability to perform under pressure can never be underestimated.
Congratulations on such an amazing milestone and individual performance Toni!