Dani Ceballos Made Toni Kroos 'Small' in the Derby, No One Had Ever Achieved This Before

One of the positive surprises of the match between Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid is Dani Ceballos. The '19' from Utrera has become one of the most important players in the scheme proposed by Carlo Ancelotti for some time now due to his footballing virtues. The '19' has simultaneously undergone an unbelievable metamorphosis.

Going from being a footballer practically sunk in ostracism to an undisputed starter, the midfielder from Utrera is seen as the unexpected 'heir' of Toni Kroos to solve the problem. The retirement of the former German '8' left a significant void in the competitive and sporting planning of the white club, which undoubtedly affected the quality of Madrid's play.

Injuries haven't allowed Carlo Ancelotti to find his chosen ones for a gala, fixed, and undisputed midfield. Despite the completely adverse circumstances, Dani Ceballos has managed to establish himself as the organizing pivot that Carlo Ancelotti so needed. His performance in the classic made him one of the best players lined up by the Italian strategist.

Not only in terms of sensations. Because Dani Ceballos has also left a statistic that would slightly pale the organizational records maintained by the German midfielder while wearing the Real Madrid jersey in recent years. The statistic published by Sqawka highlights the importance of the Andalusian midfielder in today's Real Madrid.

Direct to Stardom

According to this football analysis page, a total of 366 footballers attempted to make one hundred or more passes during a match since the 17/18 season. That was the season in which Dani Ceballos debuted with Real Madrid, serving as a reference to illustrate the growth of the '19' Sevillian merengue. Among those 366 players is Dani Ceballos himself, who attempted 102 passes in the Madrid classic.

The data revealed by Sqawka shows that 101 of those 102 passes were successful. The failure in just one delivery places the success rate at 99.02% accuracy, impressive numbers that have never been seen since then. Not even Toni Kroos managed to reach 99% or more accuracy when attempting one hundred or more passes, something Dani Ceballos achieved in a high-tension match.

Setting the bar so high, there doesn't seem to be much doubt: Dani Ceballos is very likely to be a starter in the match on Tuesday, February 11. The first leg of the round of 16, against Manchester City, is another high-caliber scenario where the '19' could extend his excellent competitive streak. Carlo Ancelotti has turned to him out of necessity and Dani Ceballos is proving to be a more than reliable player.

It's not the first time the midfielder from Utrera has become a hero in one of the white club's worst moments. It already happened during the 22/23 season, in a similar context of abundant injuries in the merengue squad. The '19' endured the most important stretch of that season in the starting eleven, offering good results that have been greatly improved in the current football season.