The weekend’s El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona continues to spark reactions online—and among the latest to weigh in is former Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos.
Real Madrid suffered their fourth loss to Barça this season, falling 4–3 in a gripping match with La Liga title implications. But beyond the result, it was the quality of play on display that captured the attention of football lovers—and earned praise from the German legend.
Kroos, speaking on his podcast Einfach mal Luppen, was notably impressed by the composure shown by Hansi Flick’s Barça side, especially after falling 2–0 behind.
“Even at 2–0, I had doubts that the game would go Real’s way. For me, it almost felt like a blessing to be up 2–0,” he admitted. “And that’s what’s truly impressive about Barça: they keep playing as if nothing’s wrong. There’s no fear of losing in that team.”
The ex-midfielder continued his analysis by pointing out the contrast in mentality:
“You could see that Real still had doubts, even at 2–0. Barça’s players are incredibly confident with the ball. On the other side, you didn’t get the sense that Madrid had full belief. They didn’t take advantage of that early lead, which is really surprising.”
Kroos’s candid remarks echo a broader sentiment—Barcelona may have lost ground early in the match, but their fluid football and mental resilience left a strong impression, even on their fiercest rivals.