UCL: Toni Kroos Gives Humble Explanation on How He Located Vinicius With Defence Splitting Pass

• Toni Kroos has downplayed the stunning nature of his pass to Vinicius
• The veteran midfielder's pass split the Bayern Munich defence into two
• Nonetheless, his side, Real Madrid, were held to a pulsating stalemate

Toni Kroos has provided a modest perspective on his remarkable assist to Vinicius Junior during Real Madrid's Champions League first-leg clash against Bayern Munich on Tuesday night.

The German midfielder showcased his timeless skill by delivering a perfectly weighted pass to find Vini, who capitalised on the opportunity to open the scoring in the seismic semi-final tie.

Kroos' pass, originating from nearly the halfway line, dissected the Bayern Munich defence, allowing the rapid Vinicius to outpace Kim Min-jae and create a goal-scoring opportunity.

Kroos explains defence-splitting pass to Vinicius

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When questioned about his ability to deliver such an exquisite pass in a pivotal match, the 34-year-old responded with humility.

"I saw that their [Bayern's] centre-backs always follow Vinicius, and I know Vini always makes runs into the space.

"That's why the credit goes to Vini. He opened the space," Toni Kroos told the media, as cited by Tribuna.

He further diminished the significance of his assist by praising his teammate for successfully converting his pass into an opportunity and ultimately into a goal.

"My pass was just ok, it wasn't that good," the German added.

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Sky Sports reports that Leroy Sane, who had troubled Madrid's defence throughout the match, fired a powerful shot inside the near post, levelling the score after Vinicius' early goal from a Kroos assist.

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Harry Kane then successfully converted a penalty, confidently beating goalkeeper Andriy Lunin early in the second half.

Vinicius secured a draw for the La Liga leaders from Munich by calmly converting another penalty.

Vinicius bows to Kroos after 'delicious' pass

While Kroos downplayed his stunning assist, Vinicius Junior paused to recognise the German's brilliance with a noticeable gesture, which warmed the hearts of many, as noted by Sports Brief.

The precise delivery from Kroos earned praise from several quarters, including Vinicius himself, who expressed gratitude for the assist in a memorable gesture.

Upon seeing Kroos, he offered a respectful bow, accompanied by a warm smile and applause, acknowledging the significance of the pass.