Midfield
Toni Kroos
Kroos does what he needs to do for Real Madrid in the midfield. He slows the game down when it is required and builds up the pace when there is a need. Kroos has attempted 86.43 passes per 90 minutes and has a very high pass accuracy rate of almost 95%. He also has an accuracy of 96% for the passes that he has played into the final third.
Kroos always manages to find space if and when there is high pressure from the opposition. He knows how to deal with that pressure from the opponents and has the skill to find the right pass under pressure. We’ve often seen him link up with other players to break through the press. The pass sonar indicates that Kroos has played a majority of his passes to the right and has generated a high xT from these passes. His pass start locations indicate that he does drift to the wider areas to help keep possession of the ball.
Casemiro
Casemiro has been inconsistent in 2021-2022, although he was great in Villarreal’s clean sheet draw. With his defensive responsibilities, Casemiro will have a significant impact on the game, and he should have more passing freedom than most opponents. He tends to come up in important games and can put up a great performance as a defensive midfielder.
Luka Modric
Luka Modric is now 36 years old, and still has a vital role in Real Madrid’s midfield. He’s still one of the best midfielders in the world. There aren’t many players in the history of football that have played at this high level till the age of 36. His passing metrics in the Champions League indicate that his stats are significantly higher than the median league value. Modric has an expected assist rate of 0.22 per 90 minutes. He has played 74.65 passes on an average in each match and has a high pass accuracy rate of 93.67%. Modric seemed a little slow after a strong January, but he should be able to pick things up against PSG. He is another world-class midfielder who shines on the big stage. After watching the right flank struggle without him, he needs to step up and assert himself on the field.
