Real Madrid have suffered a setback while preparing for their final La Liga game this season. Midfielder Toni Kroos has tested Covid positive, and will miss the pivotal game against Villareal on Saturday. Real will not only need to win this game, but also hope Atletico, who are within sniffing distance of the title, lose against Valladolid.

Kroos wasn’t a part of the team that won 1-0 at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday, as he was in isolation. “Real Madrid C. F. announces that our player, Toni Kroos, tested positive in the COVID-19 test he underwent today. Kroos has been in isolation since Friday May 14 after having come into direct contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19,” a statement by the club read.

Madrid will sorely miss Kroos in the midfield as he has the third-highest number of assists (10), right behind Atletico’s Marcos Llorente (11) and Celta Vigo’s Iago Aspas (12).

In the current La Liga standings, Real are at number two and Atletico are leading the table. Barcelona’s hopes of winning the title have crashed after their 1-2 loss versus Celta Vigo on Sunday.

Lionel Messi’s exit from Barcelona is a major talking point in football circles. Barcelona will try their best to retain Messi, who has 30 goals this season. Barca coach Ronald Koeman hopes the Celta Vigo game wasn’t Messi’s last with Barcelona this season.

“If he’s not at the club, who is going to score the goals for us? It will be impossible to play without him. But it's Leo on his own and, to win more games and get more points, we need more players to score goals,” Koeman said at a press conference.