Real limber up for Champions League final with draw as departing Kroos given standing ovation

Toni Kroos bid farewell to an emotional Santiago Bernabeu as Real Madrid played out a goalless draw with Real Betis.

Although Real had the territorial advantage for most of the game it was the visitors who came closest to scoring during the match and they appeared to have taken the lead before the interval but VAR ruled Marc Roca was slightly offside when he challenged Thibaut Courtois, leading to Johnny Cardoso converting from close range.

Real’s best chance came in the first half when Vinicius Junior backheeled from close range but, as was the case on a number of occasions, Fran Vieites made a smart save.

Courtois, surely proving his capability of starting the UEFA Champions League final, also made a number of fine stops, particularly from Ayose Perez and Juan Miranda.

Kroos left the field three minutes ahead of full time, embracing all team-mates before departing the Madrid home turf for the last time.

He will certainly be missed. As huge an addition as Kylian Mbappe will be in attack, it is possible Kroos’ absence will leave a net-minus, unless Aurelien Tchouameni or Eduardo Camavinga can step up to fill his void. You could argue if Mbappe had a Kroos at PSG he would have won a Champions League before joining Los Blancos.

Any all-time Real Madrid midfield would revolve around the man who built the legend, Alfredo di Stefano, who though wearing the No. 9, was very much the creative force deeper than a front four.

No team would be without Zinedine Zidane in a left-of-centre position and Luis Figo and La Quinta del Buitre playmaker Michel have strong arguments for a place to the right.

In the German’s role as the ‘steering wheel’ of the midfield, he may be thought of slightly behind ‘El Principe’ Fernando Redondo [voted best foreign La Liga player of the 1990s] and Xabi Alonso but though he has not won the individual accolades of those players [nor compatriot Uli Steilke who performed the role in the late 1970s and early 1980s], he has played around double the amount of games for the club.

And it is very much to his credit the way he and Luka Modric provided the base to ensure the side has managed to retain success after the departures of Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, showing them to be the heart of this second most-successful period in the club’s history where Kroos has won 21 trophies and counting.

It is hard to doubt as a pair they are the best central combination [albeit often as two of a three], in the glittering history of the Santiago Bernabeu outfit.

He was a little fortunate the disallowed Real Betis goal was scrapped off the record. Then, partially sighted, he pushed the ball straight to Cardoso who controlled and put the ball into the net. In this entertaining of goal-less draws both goalkeepers performed with merit but it was Courtois who made the best two stops of the night.

Real Madrid: Courtois 8*; Carvajal 6, Rudiger 6, Nacho 6, Mendy 6; Valverde 6, Camavinga 7, Kroos 7, Bellingham 6; Rodrygo 6, Vinicius Junior 7.

Subs: Militao 6, Kepa 6, Modric 7, Vazquez 6, Ceballos 6.

Real Betis: Vieites 7; Sabaly 7, Papastathopoulos 7, Visus 6, Juan Miranda 7; Marc Roca 6, Cardoso 6; Bellerin 6, Rodri 6, Ayoze Perez 7, Willian Jose 6.

Subs: Altimira 6, Ezzalzouli 6.

15′ AWFUL CLEARANCE FROM VIEITES PUTS BETIS IN TROUBLE! Camavinga gave the ball straight to Vinicius Jr who controlled the ball perfectly on his chest but as he went around the keeper Veites managed to push the ball away and then Mendy had the rebound cleared off the line.

34′AUDACIOUS BACKHEEL ALMOST PAYS OFF! A fine run to the by-line and pull back from Rodrygo which Vinicius Jr meets with a backheel and it took a good stop from Vieites to deny him.

38′ BELLERIN WASTES FINE CHANCE! The former Arsenal man ghosted unmarked into the box and met Sabaly’s cross with a free header eight yards out but he puts it wide.

39′ GOAL! REAL MADRID 0-1 REAL BETIS (CARDOSO)! This was not in the script. But not too surprising given the run of play. Miranda put the ball into the box and Courtois fumbled under pressure from Roca and the ball drops to Cardoso three yards out and he controls before smashing home.

43′ THE GOAL IS DISALLOWED… Strangely the referee had to go to the touchline to judge the offside. Marc Roca’s lower leg was slightly offside and as he challenged the goalkeeper he was judged to have been interfering.

51′ FINE STOP FROM COURTOIS! A vicious curler from Ayoze Perez from the edge of the box but the Belgian stopper stretched and tipped of the bar.

54′ GREAT SAVE AT THE OTHER END! In one motion Vinicius Jr turned and shot and Vieites was wrong-footed but stretched out and arm to parry the shot away.

61′ AYOZE PUTS THROUGH MIRANDA! And his strike was destined for the far left bottom corner before Courtois’ left hand diverted it off the turf and over the bar.

85′ KROOS HITS A FINE CURLING EFFORT! But Vieites makes a great save diving to his right to deny a Hollywood ending.