The Real Champs
Fansided

Player ratings from Real Madrid’s 2-2 draw against CD Numancia

By Kristofer McCormack

, SPAIN - JANUARY 10: (L-R) Dani Nieto of Numancia, Mateo Kovacic of Real Madrid during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid v Numancia on January 10, 2018 (Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)
, SPAIN - JANUARY 10: (L-R) Dani Nieto of Numancia, Mateo Kovacic of Real Madrid during the Spanish Copa del Rey match between Real Madrid v Numancia on January 10, 2018 (Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)
(Photo by Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

Attack

Marco Asensio – 6.5

While reviewing this game, someone said that Asensio wasn’t really impressive, but, had the aura of someone who could score at any time. I feel that is the perfect summary of the youngster game today. Marco wasn’t anywhere near his brilliant best on Wednesday, but, he did look threatening whether it was crossing the ball out wide or shooting in space. I have said already that I would like to see Asensio make more of these games and I stand by that.

Borja Mayoral – 6

Mayoral is a really funny player. He wasn’t at all impressive in this game, he was stagnant and seemed to think that he could wait for the ball to come to him rather than dropping deep and seeking it off his midfield. However, he still managed to get his name on the board, this time not through a goal, but his header back into the danger area assisted Lucas Vazquez’s second goal of the night.

Getting the numbers on the board despite playing poorly has been something that Mayoral has done effectively since his debut against Real Sociedad. It is probably part of the reason people want him to start over Benzema. I remain skeptical, he has played against some really poor teams in the Copa and hasn’t impressed beyond his goals. Even his brace against Sociedad looks less impressive when you consider that La Real have the fifth worst defensive record in La Liga. I hope that Mayoral can expand his game and that he succeeds at Real Madrid to spite all the people who doubted him when he came back from Germany (a lot of those same people want him starting now), however, his game is far too limited to be starting regularly for Real Madrid.

Lucas Vazquez – 7

I don’t get the Vazquez hate. He is a player that is consistently earmarked as a player that is “below Real Madrid standards” even though he is a really good winger. He has been a star performer for Madrid in the Copa Del Rey this season so far and Wednesday’s game was no different as he chipped in with two goals. He has now been involved in 6 goals in his last 6 cup games for Los Blancos and although I agree that he shouldn’t be the first player off the bench for Real Madrid, I don’t think he failed to do his job when he has been subbed into games. Ultimately, the comparison between Lucas and his national teammate in defense offers an interesting contrast in attitudes. Nacho spent most of his career bench warming for Real Madrid before Zidane demonstrated that Nacho was actually quite a useful rotation option.

Vazquez, for me, has been the Nacho of the wings. He has demonstrated that he is a player with a particular skill set and if allowed to play his game, he is a very good rotation option.

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