Real Madrid: Player ratings from the 0-2 win against Levante

Real Madrid’s player ratings as the Merengues go top of the table with a 2-0 win away from home at Levante in an entertaining match.

Real Madrid traveled to Valencia and came away with all three points against Levante. A 16th-minute goal from Vinicius Junior and a 95th-minute goal from Karim Benzema was enough to secure a 0-2 win for Los Blancos. Zinedine Zidane’s men could have been three or four goals ahead, but both Vinicius and Benzema missed chances.

Levante started putting pressure on Real Madrid late in the game, but Los Blancos weathered the storm and scored the second with the last kick of the game.

Zidane switched back to 4-3-3 formations starting Vinicius and Marco Asensio either side of Benzema. Nacho Fernandez got the start at right-back with Dani Carvajal and Alvaro Odriozola missing out due to injury. Here is how the players performed.

Manager

Zinedine Zidane – 7.5/10
Zidane picked a strong starting eleven with the players at his disposal and set the team to attack. Real Madrid lacked intensity in the first half, but they came out firing off the block after the half-time talk, and the coach should get the credit for that.

However, he probably should have switched things in the midfield sooner in the second half with the team starting to fatigue.

Overall, his tactics worked well as the team created plenty of chances and should have won the game with more goals except for the poor finishing.

Goalkeeper

Thibaut Courtois – 9/10
Courtois praises will continue after another brilliant performance by the Belgian. He made four vital saves with the score at 0-1.

His brilliance in between the sticks ultimately won Real Madrid the three points away from home.

Defenders

Nacho – 6.5/10
Nacho got thrust into the starting eleven following injuries to Carvajal and Odriozola. The backup defender looked rusty and often out of position.

Nacho got targeted by Levante often during their attacks and created most of their chances through his side. However, he did well to win three tackles, an interception, and a clearance.

Raphael Varane – 8/10
Varane continues to put in massive performances. He completed five clearances and won two aerial duels in the match.

The French World Cup winner always got into proper defensive positions and did not let anything past him.

Sergio Ramos – 7.5/10
Los Blancos captain Sergio Ramos’s partnership with Varane is one of the best in the world. No two center-backs simultaneous perform at the level these two do.

Ramos contributed with three clearances and two interceptions. He also put the ball in the back of the net with a towering header, but it got called off for offside.

Ferland Mendy – 8/10
Ferland Mendy was a monster at left-back. He impressed with excellent positional sense in the back and made some threatening runs forward.

He had four interceptions and completed three dribbles with a key pass in the match.

Midfielders

Casemiro – 7.5/10
Casemiro got a yellow card early on but came back stronger and had a solid game. He completed five tackles, three interceptions, and two clearances.

The only criticism in the Brazillian’s game was his use of the ball in the final third.

Fede Valverde – 7.5/10
Fede Valverde continues to deliver in the box to box position. His coverage in the middle of the pitch allows the likes of Modric to play with more freedom.

Valverde had four interceptions and won three tackles. He also completed two dribbles and provided a key pass.

Luka Modric – 8.5/10
Modric is still bossing the midfield at the age of 35. What a fantastic player to have on the team. The Croatian was at the heart of everything, and he controlled the game with brilliance.

He created three key passes, had three interceptions, and completed two dribbles in the match. The former Ballon d’Or winner had an incredible xGBuildup of 1.11 per Understat.com.

Forwards

Marco Asensio – 7/10
Asensio looked good on the right-hand side. The Spaniard provided plenty of creativity, including a nice setup for Vinicius, which the Brazillian missed.

Asensio had four key passes and completed two dribbles before he got taken off in the 71st minute.

Vinicius Junior – 7.5/10
A typical Vinicius performance. A lively display on the ball, taking on his players and creating a lot of danger.

The Brazillian also scored a beautiful curler to give Real Madrid the lead. However, he also missed a couple of easy chances as usual.

Karim Benzema – 6.5/10
Benzema had a relatively poor game. He missed a couple of great chances, and he wasn’t the best with this linkup play.

However, the Frenchman managed to open his accounts for the season by scoring a goal to give Real Madrid a 0-2 win.

Substitutes

Lucas Vazquez – 6/10
Lucas Vazquez replaced Marco Asensio in the 71st minute. The right-winger did not provide much in attack. He worked hard to cover for Nacho.

Rodrygo – 7/10
Rodrygo replaced Vinicius in the 71st minute and had a decent cameo. He worked hard to press and cut passing lanes.

He completed two interceptions, one of which led to him setting Benzema through with a brilliant pass for the second goal.

Isco Alarcon – N/A
Isco came in at the 88th minute and did not have any time to make an impact.

Martin Odegaard – N/A
Like Isco, Odegaard also came in too late in the game.