Real Madrid: Top 5 performances from the 4-1 win over Alaves

CB Raphael Varane

Eder Militao deserves a shoutout for a second straight solid performance at center back, but Raphael Varane was the clear star of the back four, even considering Lucas Vazquez’s solid shift at right back.

Varane goes under the radar so frequently, but the stats back up how good he was against Alaves’ front line. The French star had a team-high three interceptions (tied with Luka Modric, of course), two blocked shots, and four clearances.

There’s this narrative that Varane cannot play without Sergio Ramos, and it’s totally cherrypicking. This man has played well several times without Ramos, and he does not need Ramos to hold his own. His success with the French national team should show that. For the third time this season, Varane had a world-class performance without Ramos next to him.

CM Toni Kroos

But the best player on the pitch may have been Toni Kroos. For my money, you can’t pick between Lukita and Toni, and therefore I would not argue against anyone who nominates Kroos as their Man of the Match against Deportivo Alaves.

He had two assists. The first of them was a trademark, pinpoint corner for Casemiro to open the scoring. His second assist was even better and should be in highlight reels everywhere. Kroos pressed a defender into a mistake high up the right side of the pitch, which is opposite from where he starts. Therefore, he had to lift a through ball over the top with his left foot. Job done. And Eden Hazard took care of the rest with aplomb.

Kroos chipped in with two tackles and an interception to go with his four key passes, two assists, and two dribbles completed. Once again, he led the team with 94 passes, completing nearly 96 percent of them. And 14 of his 15 completions were long balls. Extraordinary. I am running out of superlatives for Kroos, who is having a jaw-dropping season for Real Madrid.