CM Toni Kroos
His long-time midfield friend Toni Kroos was even better. The German international delivered arguably the best performance of any individual player in El Derbi, masterfully controlling the pitch to the point where Atletico Madrid were seemingly hopeless to stop Kroos.
You could scarcely remember a misplaced pass from Kroos, who provided the corner for Casemiro’s early opener. Kroos completed nearly 97 percent of his 90 passes, and many of those passes were not easy. He created a trio of chances for Real Madrid, constantly switching the play or finding teammates for a progressive transition pass while navigating a tight space.
Kroos just might be the best passer in the world, and there’s an argument to be made that he’s the world’s best midfielder. With performances like this vs. an otherwise excellent Atleti side, he is rebuilding his case.
RW Lucas Vazquez
Lucas Vazquez got the start as the right winger after Dani Carvajal returned to the starting XI. Madridistas got to see an encore performance from the experienced wide man, who followed up a career day against Borussia Monchengladbach with a workhorse display in El Derbi.
The Galician winger recorded a staggering six tackles, completed 88 percent of his passes, and tied Toni Kroos for the team lead with two key passes.
There is no doubt that Real Madrid benefit from Vazquez’s work rate and pressing. He and Carvajal were a shutdown duo against Joao Felix and pretty much ruled the right-hand side of the pitch for the duration of the 90. Vazquez has earned more starts in 2020-2021 as a right winger or right back, especially when you compare his form to Marco Asensio’s.