Toni Kroos is the best German midfielder of his generation. His game makes him a multiple Champions League winner and an important factor for Real Madrid. After more than 600 competitive games, the 32-year-old is still experiencing a premiere.
Not a good day for world champion Toni Kroos. With Real Madrid he can’t get past a 1-1 draw against Girona at home in the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. The 32-year-old did not experience the end of a turbulent stoppage time on the pitch. But not because coach Carlo Ancelotti is replacing him, but because he has been sent off by the referee for the first time in his 15-year professional career.
In more than 600 competitive games at club level for Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and, of course, Spanish giants Real Madrid, what is probably the best German midfielder of the 2000s avoided being sent off, but he failed to do so against Girona. Mario Melero López didn’t let him go unpunished for two yellow fouls in the game against Girona. In the second minute of added time, the 43-year-old referee shows Kroos yellow and then red.
It was the end of a used day for Real Madrid, who later quarreled with the referee. He denied a Rodrygo goal just minutes before Kroos was sent off and whistled a controversial penalty for Girona in the 80th minute. Marco Asensio grabbed the ball, said the referee. That was not the case, said everyone who supported Real Madrid. However, Cristhian Stuani converted and canceled out Vincius Junior’s lead after 70 minutes.
“I don’t like talking about refereeing decisions,” said Real coach Ancelotti after the game, only to then of course talk about the referee. “It’s not a penalty because the ball hits him in the chest. He didn’t touch the ball with his hand. They made it up,” Ancelotti said.
Despite the disappointing draw, only their second of the season, Real Madrid jumped back to the top of the Spanish league. With 32 points, the reigning Champions League winner leads the table ahead of Barcelona, ??who are the only remaining competitor in the championship race with 31 points. The other pursuers, including Atlético Madrid and Real Sociedad, are already far behind.
