The Toni Kroos, Luka Modric midfield does it again
Real Madrid were not perfect in this match, but they put together a flawless passage of play in the middle of the first half due to the control of the pitch that Luka Modric and Toni Kroos had. We have seen these two midfielders dominate the competition on a weekly basis, and they had some gorgeous dribbles and, in Modric’s case, outside-the-boot passes, putting on a show for a good 30 minutes or so.
That spell proved to be a key to the match, as Real scored twice between the 20th and 30th minutes, with both Karim Benzema goals assisted by Toni Kroos. He fully deserved both assists, with the first being a particular highlight due to the dribbling beforehand and the accuracy of the pass into the penalty area.
Combined, per WhoScored.com, Modric and Kroos had four key passes, five fouls drawn, two dribbles completed, and four defensive interventions. Kroos, in addition to his two assists, completed 94 percent of his passes and had three crosses. Modric was Real’s leader in total pass attempts this Saturday.
As individuals, Modric and Kroos each have an argument for being the best midfielder on the planet in 2021. But as a duo, they are on a different level entirely. If Real Madrid can pull off a title victory this season – or even two! – their 2020-2021 campaigns will be immortalized.