Real Madrid falls to Shakhtar Donetsk 2-3 at Stadia de Alfredo De Stefano in their first Champions League outing for the 2020/2021 season following a dreadful first-half performance.
Real Madrid looked awful in their first Champions League match of the season as they fall to defeat against Shakhtar Donetsk at home. Zinedine Zidane’s men seemed unprepared and clueless in the first half and went down three goals by halftime. Second-half goals from Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior gave hopes for a comeback, but ultimately Los Blancos failed to score the third goal.
Zidane gave Luka Jovic and Rodrygo the start in the frontline while Ferland Mendy started at right-back. Here is how the players performed.
Manager
Zinedine Zidane – 3/10
Real Madrid’s first-half display against Shakhtar was awful. The team did not look prepared for the match. The Merengues lacked intensity and intent in the first 45 minutes. That all comes down to the coach.
Zidane failed to get his team ready for their first Champions League match of the 2020/2021 season, and he has to take the blame for it.
Goalkeeper
Thibaut Courtois – 7.5/10
Courtois continued his brilliant form in goal with multiple one-on-one saves. Real Madrid’s defense did him no justice as he wasn’t at fault for any of the three that went in.
Defenders
Ferland Mendy – 5.5/10
Mendy did not look as comfortable on the right-hand side as he does on the left. He got dribbled past a couple of times, but the former Lyon defender was the only defender who looked formidable.
Raphael Varane – 4/10
An ever so reliable Varane has failed to show up in a second straight Champions League match without his regular partner Sergio Ramos by his side. An awful performance by the Frenchman got capped by an own-goal.
Eder Militao – 4/10
Militao did not fare any better than his defensive partner. He got easily beaten on the first goal, and poor defensive performances continued throughout the first half. Militao improved in the second half, but he was nowhere near the level he showed against Cadiz when he replaced Ramos.
Marcelo – 4.5/10
Marcelo is turning out to be a frustrating figure amongst Madridistas. Once an offensive juggernaut from the left-back position, he no longer provides the same threat in attack.
More so, his defensive contribution is even less than it used to be. He was often out of position and failed to track his markers numerous times.
Midfielders
Casemiro – 5/10
Casemiro has struggled to find consistency this season. He looked like he was slowly getting back to his best when he came on in the second half against Cadiz. However, against Shakhtar, the Brazillian got overrun and often found himself chasing his opponents.
Fede Valverde – 6.5/10
Valverde was the only midfielder in the first half who had a semblance of a functioning midfielder. He did well in his box-to-box role, but ultimately he was not enough to save Real Madrid’s dreadful first-half display.
The Uruguayan also thought he had given Los Blancos an injury-time equalizer with a brilliant strike, but the goal got ruled out for offside.
Luka Modric – 6.5/10
Luka Modric struggled to gain control of the game as it passed by him in the first half. He came out with intensity and purpose in the second half. The former Balon D’or winner helped Real Madrid pile pressure on Shakhtar and scored a thunderous goal. It was not enough to usher a full comeback.
Forwards
Marco Asensio – 5.5/10
Asensio did better than his fellow attackers but still a lot less than what we know he is capable of doing. He had one thunderous shot from outside the box that forced Trubin into a save. He completed two dribbles
Luka Jovic – 4/10
Jovic got a rare start ahead of Karim Benzema, and it was a one to forget. He did not get involved much and failed to take an opportunity to score from a Marcelo cross with a missed header.
Rodrygo – 3/10
Rodrygo was ineffective in the 45 minutes he was on the pitch. He had only 23 touches. He got taken off at halftime.
Substitutes
Karim Benzema – 4.5/10
Benzema replaced Rodrgyo at halftime, but he did not fare any better. He had only one shot that went off target. He also completed only 23 touches.
Vinicius Junior – 7.5/10
Vinicius came in for Jovic in the 58th minute and made an immediate impact. He picked Marlos’s pocket and scored Real Madrid’s second goal giving them hope of a comeback. The Brazillian winger completed three dribbles and looked threatening in the final third.
Toni Kroos – 5/10
Toni Kroos replaced Modric in the 69th minute to provide fresh legs in search of the equalizer. He was not able to turn to tide in Real Madrid’s favor.