Toni Kroos Takes Control in Real Madrid Victory over Rayo Vallecano

Toni Kroos bagged a goal and an assist in an impressive performance in Real Madrid’s 5-1 win over an ambitious Rayo Vallecano side at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

The match featured two of La Liga’s most prolific passers, with Kroos squaring off against Rayo’s metronomic deep-lying playmaker Roberto Trashorras.

Per WhoScored, Trashorras had made more average passes per match (77.2) than any other player in La Liga coming into Saturday’s match. Kroos was just behind, with an average of 75.2 per match.

The two often found themselves in close attendance on Saturday. Trashorras was tasked with stepping forward to put pressure on Kroos whenever the Madrid midfielder received possession, while Kroos was assigned to do the same to Trashorras.

Indeed, it was from Trashorras that Kroos won possession in the build up to the Madrid opener. He made a sharp interception, received the ball back from Cristiano Ronaldo and squared for the returning Gareth Bale to tap home.

Madrid did not see as much of the ball as they usually do. With Trashorras a central figure until his substitution just past the hour mark, Rayo won the possession battle. But when Madrid did have the ball, Kroos was usually the one ushering them forward.

Per FourFourTwo Stats Zone, he completed 49 of his 52 attempted passes, with two of those leading to efforts on goal. He also provided a good set-piece delivery for Karim Benzema’s header against the crossbar late in the first half.

Furthermore, the 24-year-old opened his Madrid account with a beautifully taken finish that re-established their two-goal advantage early in the second half.

Ronaldo stabbed the ball back into his path and Kroos delivered a crisp shot into the corner of the net from outside the area. The ball started wide of the goal and swerved back inside the post.

His goal and overall performance certainly impressed his coach, Carlo Ancelotti.

After a slightly shaky beginning to his career in Madrid, Kroos had been in excellent form during the club’s current 13-match winning streak. He has settled into a slightly deeper role and formed an excellent partnership with Luka Modric in the centre of the pitch.

The quality of the former Bayern Munich midfielder was, of course, never in question. It should also come as little surprise that he is now flourishing under the command of a coach who has long displayed an affinity for deep-lying playmakers.

Ancelotti authorised the signing of Pep Guardiola at Juventus—only for the deal to fall through when he was sacked—employed Andrea Pirlo at the base of the midfield in his AC Milan side and used Marco Verratti and Xabi Alonso in the same role at later clubs.

Now, in Kroos, he has another player capable of dictating the tempo from deep.

Some of Madrid’s opponents in the latter stages of the Champions League may put more strain on Kroos’ defensive capabilities. But the way in which he and Modric establish control through possession means that most teams are unlikely to test those attributes.

And Kroos’ contribution to Madrid’s attacking play will usually prove sufficient in overcoming any slight defensive weakness. His assist on Saturday means that he now has six for the season, two more than he managed in the entirety of last season at Bayern, as per OptaJose.

Earlier this week, in an interview with RAC1, as per Sport, Johan Cruyff lamented the fact that Barcelona had missed out on Kroos.

On the evidence of his performance on Saturday and those in other recent matches, it could indeed be a failure that Barcelona will live to regret for some years to come. It is early days yet, but Kroos is already proving himself to be a decisive player for Real Madrid.