Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos will not be playing at the World Cup as the German midfielder retired from international football in 2021European champions Real Madrid beat Cadiz to close the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona to two points heading into the break for the World Cup.Eder Militao put Real ahead when he headed in from Toni Kroos’ free-kick, with the goal given after a video assistant referee check for offside.Kroos doubled the hosts’ lead in the 70th minute with a spectacular volley from outside the penalty area.Lucaz Perez pulled one back for Cadiz late on but Real took the points.After 14 matches of the La Liga season Barcelona have 37 points with Real on 35, while third-placed Real Sociedad are nine behind Real on 26 points.The defeat leaves Cadiz 19th in the table and in the relegation zone.There are no more La Liga matches until after the World Cup in Qatar, with the Spanish league season resuming on 31 December.Line-upsReal MadridFormation 4-3-31Courtois17Vázquez3Militão4Alaba23Mendy10Modric18Tchouaméni8Kroos15Valverde21Rodrygo20Vinícius Júnior1Courtois17VázquezSubstituted forNachoat 88’minutes3MilitãoBooked at 19mins4AlabaBooked at 37mins23Mendy10ModricSubstituted forCamavingaat 85’minutes18Tchouaméni8Kroos15Valverde21RodrygoSubstituted forCeballosat 82’minutes20Vinícius JúniorBooked at 28minsSubstitutes2Carvajal5Vallejo6Nacho7E Hazard11Asensio12Camavinga13Lunin16Odriozola19Ceballos24Mariano26López AndúgarCádizFormation 4-4-21Ledesma20Carcelén3Jiménez Jarque16Torres Ruiz22Espino11Alejo24San Emeterio Díaz4Alcaraz7Sobrino8Fernández Iglesias9Lozano1Ledesma20Carcelén3Jiménez JarqueBooked at 28mins16Torres RuizSubstituted forMartín-Bejarano Serranoat 73’minutes22Espino11AlejoBooked at 55minsSubstituted forBongondaat 56’minutes24San Emeterio Díaz4AlcarazSubstituted forOcampoat 56’minutes7SobrinoBooked at 44minsSubstituted forNegredoat 78’minutes8Fernández Iglesias9LozanoSubstituted forPérezat 72’minutesSubstitutes6Martín-Bejarano Serrano10Bongonda12Alarcón13Gil14Ocampo15Pérez17Mabil18Negredo19Giménez21Arzamendia36Blanco37SpatzReferee:César Soto GradoAttendance:53,190Live TextMatch ends, Real Madrid 2, Cadiz 1.Second Half ends, Real Madrid 2, Cadiz 1.Foul by Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid).Alfonso Espino (Cadiz) wins a free kick in the defensive half.Attempt missed. Federico Valverde (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the… Click below to read the full story from BBC Sport
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