Player Ratings: Real Madrid 2-1 Barcelona
Goals from Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos earn Real Madrid a HUGE three points in the race for LaLiga. Just like against Liverpool in midweek, Real Madrid were off to a quick start. It only took 13 minutes for the Merengues to find an opener. Karim Benzema gave Real Madrid the lead with a sumptuous flick from Lucas Vazquez’s cross.
Not long later, Real Madrid doubled their lead through Toni Kroos. The German found the back of the net with a deflected free-kick after Vinicius had been fouled just outside Barcelona’s penalty box. Toni’s goal meant Real Madrid would go into the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead.
The second half didn’t go as well as the first, with Barcelona looking to get back into the game and Real Madrid’s players looking visibly exhausted. Around the hour mark, Oscar Mingueza managed to claw one back for the Blaugrana following a cross from Jordi Alba down the left flank. Real Madrid had a number of opportunities to put the game to bed but could not take their chances.
The plethora of missed opportunities nearly came back to haunt Real Madrid with Ilaix Moriba hitting the bar in stoppage time. In the end, Zidane’s men managed to secure all three points which sees them move top of the table, level on points with Atletico Madrid who have a game in hand. Our player ratings:
Starting XI:
Thibaut Courtois: 7/10
Courtois made a couple of big saves to deny Barcelona’s forwards throughout the game. The Belgian couldn’t do much to stop Mingueza’s goal.
Lucas Vazquez: 8/10
Eder Militao: 8/10
Followed up his excellent performance against Liverpool in midweek with another brilliant performance against Barcelona. The Brazilian won countless aerial duels and was virtually unbeatable at the back throughout the game. Superb.
Nacho: 8/10
Another captain like performance from Nacho. The Spaniard has formed a good understanding with Militao at the back and made life very difficult for Barcelona’s attackers. Nacho is in the form of his life.
Ferland Mendy: 7/10
Luka Modric: 8/10
Casemiro: 8/10
Fantastic shift from Real Madrid’s engine. The Brazilian dictated the tempo of the game and was crucial to Madrid winning the all important midfield battle. Casemiro ended up getting a red card for two reckless challenges and will now miss Real Madrid’s next league game against Getafe.
Toni Kroos: 8/10
Another excellent shift from Madrid’s ever reliable German. Toni scored Real Madrid’s second goal with a deflected freekick and nearly scored another in the second half but didn’t time his header correctly.
Fede Valverde: 8/10
Karim Benzema: 8/10
Vinicius Jr: 8/10
Substitutions:
Odriozola: 6/10 – Came on to replace the injured Vazquez. The right-back took some time to settle in the game and Barcelona took advantage of that in the second half.
Asensio: 6/10 – Came on to replace Valverde. The Spaniard had to do plenty of defensive work to help out Odriozola and thus didn’t have much impact going forward.
Isco: 6/10 – Came on to replace Toni Kroos. The Spaniard looked out of sort and struggled to make much of an impact.
Marcelo: 6/10 – Came on to replace Vinicius. The Brazilian was introduced to help Mendy down the left flank with Barcelona causing Real Madrid plenty of problems during the second half. Marcelo had a brilliant chance to put the game to bed but couldn’t find the right finish at the right time.
Mariano Diaz: 6/10 – Came on replace Benzema with around 15 minutes left. The striker nodded the ball brilliantly into Marcelo’s path but the Brazilian couldn’t find a finish late on.
