Real Madrid: 3 takeaways from an incredible bounce-back win over Alaves

Luka Modric, Toni Kroos were sensational

I have written so many superlatives about both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos this season, but we can never sing their praises enough. They are well and truly two of the world’s best midfielders, and they proved it again on Matchday 20.

Modric could’ve had three assists in this match, but he’ll take the one, which came from an inch-perfect pass under pressure all the way to the left-hand side of Alaves’ defense. The stats don’t fully tell the story of how amazing Modric was.

In Kroos’ case, the stats finally do him justice. Coming into this game, Kroos was Real Madrid’s leader in key passes per game but only had one assist. Per WhoScored.com, he had four key passes and two assists against Alaves. Kroos’ first assist was a delightful corner to Casemiro, and his second was an even better pass to take the defense entirely out of the equation. And he deserves full credit for winning the ball all on his own, pressing Alaves into an error up the right-hand side of the pitch (he is a left midfielder, of course).

Kroos and Modric are the leaders of this attack in so many ways. They play the ball out of the back, create clear chances, and produce the goods for their teammates. In many ways, everything great about Real Madrid when they have possession starts with Kroos and Modric. We saw how vital they are to Madrid today.