Real Madrid: Top 5 performances from the 2-1 win over Huesca

CM Toni Kroos

Raphael Varane was the hero for Real Madrid at Huesca, but he might not even have been the best player on the pitch for Los Blancos. That honor could be given to midfielder Toni Kroos, who is now La Liga’s leader in key passes per game and passing accuracy, per WhoScored.com.

Kroos was by far Real’s creative leader in this match with six key passes, as the team would have been dead in the water without his creation and ball retention. Huesca simply could not get the ball off of the German international, who has been in fine form all season long.

In total, Kroos completed 96 percent of his team-high 99 passes, including 12 of 13 accurate long balls and four of six accurate crosses. Simply sublime.

DM Casemiro

Another midfielder joins him on this list. Casemiro does not have half of Kroos’ ability on the ball, but he more than makes up for it by defending his socks off for Los Merengues. Without Casemiro in the defensive midfield, Real are in trouble, as we have seen multiple times this season. Even though most Madridistas give Casemiro high praise, it seems as if there are still some football fans who do not give the man his due.

Case recorded four tackles and five interceptions in this victory over Huesca, who attacked aggressively and with great panache. Without Casemiro’s steely defending and intelligent positioning, Real Madrid would have given up several goals on this day. He chipped in the attack, too, with two key passes, including a header that enabled Varane to win the match.