Real Madrid at Osasuna Player Ratings: Isco at his best
DM Casemiro
Although his passing was off, he did assist Ramos with his head for the go-ahead goal in the 38th minute. And then he came alive in the second half, absolutely bossing Osasuna out of the midfield with his defensive work. Casemiro started to make better passes and forays into the final third with the ball. He remains one of Real’s most important players.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10
CM Fede Valverde
A box-to-box midfielder by nature, Fede Valverde’s running sometimes costs the team when he is pulled out of position. But it is truly a sight to watch him charge at defenders.
Valverde picked up his game in the second half, providing an easy, looping assist for Luka Jovic’s second goal of the season. The young Uruguayan is quite aware of his surroundings in the final third, as exemplified by his pass. This wasn’t Valverde’s best game, but he was still solid.
Rating: 6.0 out of 10
CM Luka Modric
Modric set up a couple of late goals with his passes, and he could have had an earlier assist after sending a sharp low cross into the box for Benzema. The Croatian worked incredibly hard in midfield in this game and deserves full praise. At the end of matches when everyone else is running on empty, Modric finds something extra. What a player.
Rating: 8.0 out of 10
AM Isco
The best player on the pitch, no doubt. Isco pulled the team together by taking control, building attacks with smart, incisive passing. His turns created space from nothing, he led counterattacks, and he constantly looked to get players involved in wider areas. If his forwards were better, he would have had an assist to go with his well-taken goal. Isco also did brilliantly to track back to his own goal line and hold off Pervis Estupinan to dribble out the first half.
He exited the match in the second half for Vinicius Junior, who was used to take advantage of the gaps on the left side of Osasuna’s defense, giving width.
Isco was the best player on the pitch, by far. In the second half, he had a great effort on goal from outside the box, made awesome turns, and showed incredible work rate. He really answered the critics with this world-class performance.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10