Real Madrid player ratings from the LaLiga opener

Real Madrid‘s return to league play to defend their title began in great fashion as Los Blancos defeated Deportivo la Coruña 3-0 in the Estadio Riazor Sunday night. Here are the player ratings of each of Real’s players who featured in the match.

Goalkeeper and Defense

Keylor Navas – 9

I simply can’t hate on Keylor Navas anymore with the way he’s playing.

The Costa Rican keeper is back to world-class form to start the 2017/2018 campaign. After allowing two goals in the first three matches, Navas earned his second consecutive clean sheet to kickoff the LaLiga season on the right foot.

The starting keeper stopped every shot that came on target, stopping all five shots he faced. Deportivo took 12 shots in total, and Navas was comfortable stopping all of them.

Navas made two big saves inside the first 15 minutes and settled into the match nicely. His best play, however, was his penalty kick save on Andone in the 88th minute. The match was already decided at this point, but for Keylor to still put in the effort and keep the clean sheet was incredible.

Again, I have to give it to the man, he was phenomenal in the opening match. Dare I say in mid-season form?

Marcelo – 8.5

I feel like a broken record speaking highly of Marcelo after every match.

But, the Brazilian deserves the praise yet again. He was a force on defense, and great on the attack as well, adding another beautiful assist to his running total.

Marcelo provided a perfect cross to Casemiro for the second goal in the first half on a low cross placed perfectly on the foot of countrymen at the back post.

Marcelo has been assisting goals recent like he’s a left midfielder or a left-winger, not a left-back. He’s in a world of his own as the tweet below shows. Like a nice wine, Marcelo is just getting better and better with age.

Sergio Ramos – 6.5

Sergio, Sergio, Sergio. You headache you.

After putting in a great 90+ minute performance, going back and forth with striker Andone all match, Captain Sergio lost his cool like he’s been known to do drawing a second yellow which forced him off in the 91st minute.

Had he not been an idiot at the end of the match, I would’ve awarded him a 7.5. However, now there’s a chance he misses the next match due to a high elbow to the head of a Deportivo player.

I don’t want to toot my own horn, but I called this happening in my preview of the center backs.

And he earns himself this gif:

via GIPHY

Nacho – 8

I thought Nacho was fantastic all night.

I was surprised a couple times with his speed tracking back to make a steal or interception. Deportivo did a good job stretching the Real defense and hitting back on the counter attack. Nacho was the one who covered the back, from sideline to sideline, the best of any of the defenders.

In his first appearance in the new campaign, the Spanish center back showed he will be a sufficient replacement after Pepe’s departure this summer.

He made two tackles, won two ariels, and was all over Andone all match. Overall a very solid match from #6.

We will likely see Nacho several more times this season if Sergio keeps doing Sergio things.

Dani Carvajal – 7

Dani had a tough match Sunday night, going down grabbing his leg once, and his shoulder another time late in the match.

The speedy right-back completed 94% of his passes in the match and finished tied with Marcelo for the most tackles on the team with 4.

We have yet to see the attacking prowess of Dani thus far in the early season, but it seems he’s shaking off some rust getting back to full match speed.

It was Carvajal who helped to stop a potential early goal from la Coruña as helped to cut off Andone in the 5th minute.