Real Madrid Player Ratings vs. Alaves: David Alaba doesn’t need time to adjust
LW Eden Hazard
Eden Hazard is learning to play a different style to prolong his career and remain effective, so while he is no longer carrying the ball and dribbling around defenders, he is still making his presence felt with clever touches as more of a linking player who provides width and then drifts inside when he can be that connective piece. Hazard had a few delightful flicks in this win, including one that led to Benzema’s opener. The Belgian had a team-high three key passes with a pair of dribbles completed and fouls drawn for Real Madrid. You have to consider his night a success.
CF Karim Benzema
What more superlatives can be said about the most important Real Madrid player? Karim Benzema will surely have more help this season, especially if Eden Hazard and Gareth Bale can carry on from their quality openers at Alaves. Yet it is abundantly clear that Benzema is the guy for Real Madrid. He scored twice and made so many great runs off the ball. He is on another level from even the other players in Madrid as an attacking star, and you just wonder what he could do with Kylian Mbappe by his side.
Rating: 8.0
Real Madrid's 5 Most Valuable Players Of The Last Decade. dark. Next
RW Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale took players on, took on shots, and showed a great understanding with Eden Hazard and Karim Benzema by the time he made way for the young Rodrygo Goes in the second half. The Welshman looked reinvigorated against Milan and carried that positivity into the LaLiga opener against Alaves. Bale could be a real X-Factor for Real Madrid this season, and he does seem intent on playing to his fullest under Carlo Ancelotti. With time, we will see better end product from the experienced forward.
Rating: 6.5