Real Madrid player ratings from the win against Celta Vigo
Real Madrid brushed off the preseason blues with an outstanding win at Balaidos with Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, and Lucas Vazquez all chipping in with a goal apiece. This was a good start to the challenging season ahead. Here are the player ratings.
With Barcelona having lost their season opener, the Whites needed to win this game to try and put a little bit of early pressure on the defending champions. Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, and Marcelo all put in a man of the match worthy performances.
Thibaut Courtois – 8: Courtois delivered a great performance and showed why he deserves to be Madrid’s starting keeper. He had a couple of really important saves to keep Madrid in front with one being an outstanding point-blank save from a header. He really deserved the clean sheet but was at no fault for the only goal conceded.
Álvaro Odriozola – 4: Odriozola had a game to forget. His mistake at the end of the first half led to a goal that was thankfully ruled out correctly by VAR. However, he did put in a better performance in the second half but still was comfortably the team’s worst player. With Carvajal also out of form, this was the chance for Odri to shine but he didn’t.
Raphael Varane – 7: Varane still doesn’t seem to be at his very best but he put in a good performance. He had an important touch that took the ball out of the path of Gabriel Fernández who would have most probably scored with the score at 0-1. The French international looked calm and composed at the back alongside his captain.
Sergio Ramos – 8.5: It was another great performance from the captain. He led the defensive line and managed to keep Iago Aspas quiet throughout the game. Celta just couldn’t break the Madrid defensive line.
Marcelo – 9: The fullback was involved in all three goals in some way. He repaid Zidane’s trust in him fully. He didn’t have to do much defensively so he was able to work combinations with Vinicius, Kroos, and Benzema on the left side which were a treat to watch.
Casemiro – 8.5: He showed why he is so important to this team yesterday. Sitting between the defense and the midfield line, he executed his duties perfectly. Casemiro, Varane, and Ramos together were the reason for the solid defensive performance.
Luka Modric – 7: Looked good but again, far from his best. His straight red card in the second half was unfair but somehow it managed to increase the team’s performance level.
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Toni Kroos – 9.5: Toni was having a good performance until the Modric red card. After that, he just went to another level. His screamer from outside the 18-yard box came at the right time helping the team settle their nerves from the infraction. Never did the team look like they were playing with 10 men with Kroos dominating the midfield. MOTM contender.
Gareth Bale – 9.5: Bale was brilliant in the first half of the game. His movement to create space for himself to pass the ball to Benzema for the first goal was brilliant. He looked hungry and motivated. However, he faded a bit into the second half and was replaced by Isco. He also defended pretty well. Bale needs to carry this performance for the whole season.
Vinicius Junior – 7.5: Vinicius was more active in the second half of the game. He worked hard and didn’t shy away from his defensive duties. He even got a yellow card while preventing a counter and taking one for the team. An encouraging performance overall.
Karim Benzema – 9.5: Last season’s best player started from where he left off with a wonderful performance and a goal to give Madrid the lead in the 12th minute. Helped connect the attack and gave a brilliant assist for the Vazquez goal.
Substitutions
Lucas Vazquez – 7: As always, he worked hard and finished off an amazing team move in the 80th minute to put the result beyond any doubt.
Next. Three things we learned from Real Madrid’s emphatic win over Celta Vigo. dark
Isco – 8.5: Isco was brilliant for the time he was on the pitch. He helped Kroos control the midfield and played his part in the third goal.
Luka Jovic – 5: He gets a low rating only because he didn’t have much time to influence the game. He didn’t get much service either. Hopefully, he’s played more to help integrate into the team.