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Real Madrid: Top 5 performances from 4-0 win over Eibar

By Kevin Parvizi

MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 2: Eden Hazard of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Real Betis Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 2, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 2: Eden Hazard of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Real Madrid v Real Betis Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu on November 2, 2019 in Madrid Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde (R) is congratulated by teammate Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between SD Eibar and Real Madrid CF at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar on November 9, 2019. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP) (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA/AFP via Getty Images)
Real Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder Federico Valverde (R) is congratulated by teammate Real Madrid’s Croatian midfielder Luka Modric after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between SD Eibar and Real Madrid CF at the Ipurua stadium in Eibar on November 9, 2019. (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA / AFP) (Photo by ANDER GILLENEA/AFP via Getty Images) /

CM Fede Valverde

Although Luka Modric had his strongest game of the 2019-2020 campaign in giving Toni Kroos some well-deserved rest, Fede Valverde was the standout performer in midfield. He even scored his first goal in La Liga, stroking home a shot at the top of the box past Eibar’s goalkeeper brilliantly, drawing comparisons to Kroos for the technique on his shot.

Valverde’s industry and awareness in midfield earned the most plaudits, of course. He finished the game with two aerial duels won, three interceptions, and a team-high four tackles, per WhoScored.com. Those are majestic numbers in defense, and Valverde has blossomed as a box-to-box midfielder alongside entrenched superstar Casemiro.

Going forward, it will be interesting to see how Valverde’s contributions to Real’s attack evolve, because that excellent 4-0 goal against Eibar could open the floodgates for more dangerous shots from the Uruguayan. While his most valuable work will be done on defense, Valverde has always flashed the technical ability to make an impact offensively.

Valverde deserved to be named the official Man of the Match against Eibar, and it says a lot that he won the award over the superstar Eden Hazard and striker Karim Benzema, who grabbed his second brace in a row.

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