Real Madrid player ratings from the LaLiga opener

Forwards

Gareth Bale (Man of the Match) – 9

You have no idea how happy it makes me to see Gareth return to the play we’ve become so accustomed to seeing in the past.

Bale kicked off the ’17/’18 campaign breaking a 10 match goal drought by scoring the opening goal of the season off of a deflection which saw him easily tuck the ball into the empty net.

He wasn’t done there, adding a professional assist to Kroos for the third and final goal, holding the play up in the box, turning his back to goal, and finding Kroos at the top of the box.

In 80 minutes of work, Bale started strong, and finished strong, but disappeared for a long period from the half hour mark, until his assist to Kroos in the 62nd minute.

He completed 85% of his passes and was making good runs trying to get on the end of a couple crosses.

Gareth has now scored the first goal in LaLiga play for Real Madrid in three straight seasons. Not a bad track record.

Karim Benzema – 7.5

Karim was a bit absent tonight and looked clunky when he received the ball.

He bottled several of his dribbles and wasn’t a real threat to score at all during the match. The French striker was credited with an assist on the Bale opening goal, but it seemed more like a failed shot rather than a designed pass to the Welshman.

However, the Big Benz moved around the field nicely creating space for his teammates like usually does, and again was a factor in setting goals up.