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Real Madrid vs. Inter Milan: 5 key players to watch in the Champions League

By Kevin Parvizi

Eden Hazard of Real Madrid (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Eden Hazard of Real Madrid (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid, Toni Kroos
Real Madrid, Toni Kroos (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

Real Madrid desperately need their first win of the Champions League campaign, but they must face their most difficult opponents in the group next in Inter.

It seems like Real Madrid are past their rocky start to the 2020-2021 season. After losing back-to-back games to Cadiz and Shakhtar Donetsk, Los Blancos demolished Barcelona at the Camp Nou in El Clasico, 3-1.

Although they weren’t at their best in the following game against Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League, they still rescued a point after Eden Hazard made his highly-anticipated return from injury. And then in Hazard’s first start of the season, Los Blancos played their best football in a 4-1 win over Huesca.

On Tuesday, Real Madrid face a must-win game against one of Serie A’s best teams in Inter Milan. But Inter have also struggled lately, including losing this weekend to Parma.

Here are five players on Los Merengues to watch as Real look to win their first game of the Champions League season, currently stuck in last place in the group.

CM Toni Kroos

Toni Kroos did not start against Huesca, but he did come off the bench for the final 20 minutes to deliver 28 perfect passes, per WhoScored.com.

The German international has been overshadowed by Luka Modric and Fede Valverde this season, as both Real Madrid star midfielders have been extraordinary in 2020-2021, scoring some excellent goals to boot.

Kroos has not found the back of the net yet, but he is Real Madrid’s leader with 3.0 key passes per game in La Liga. The 30-year-old is also second among the club’s midfielders in tackles per game behind Casemiro. And of course, he is completing 92.5 percent of his passes.

Look for Kroos to have another big game against Inter Milan. He will be needed against Inter’s rugged midfield. Few players are as composed as Kroos, whose skills were on display last weekend in the win over Barcelona.

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