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Real Madrid: Ranking Los Blancos’ top 5 performers from August

By Manas Pratim Sharma

VITORIA GASTEIZ, SPAIN - AUGUST 14: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Deportivo Alaves v Real Madrid at the Estadio de Mendizorroza on August 14, 2021 in Vitoria Gasteiz Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
VITORIA GASTEIZ, SPAIN - AUGUST 14: Karim Benzema of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Deportivo Alaves v Real Madrid at the Estadio de Mendizorroza on August 14, 2021 in Vitoria Gasteiz Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /
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Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Thibaut Courtois, Real Madrid (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

After three Matchdays in the league, Real Madrid is sitting on top of the table with seven points, thanks to the eight goals that they’ve scored. The teams from the first spot to the seventh have the same number of points. The only thing separating these teams is the goal difference, and that’s where Real Madrid shines. Carlo Ancelotti’s tactics have done the trick and it seems like Real Madrid can manufacture handy chances to score at any position of the match.

August was a good month and Real Madrid did get the start they were looking for. And, it is no surprise that a few players took on that extra shift to outshine others and help the team. The departure of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane and the absence of Toni Kroos in midfield is never the best way to step into a season, that too, under a new manager. But, to everyone’s amusement, Los Blancos has kept their nerves. Here are the top five performers from an eventful August.

5. Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois was involved in a penalty incident on the very first match against Alaves. But, he in no way can be blamed for it. He did what he had to do after being exposed awkwardly due to a mistake by Eder Militao. That gifted Alaves the only goal in a 1-4 home loss to the Merengues.

That incident aside, Thibaut Courtois was rock solid with some vital punched clearances in that game. He seemed to have picked up where he left off last season. That was what Madridistas wanted to see, their confident and ever-dependable goalkeeper. Courtois, then went on to have an off match against Levante in the second Matchday when Los Merengues conceded three.

Blaming Courtois for the goals in that game wouldn’t be the right call. Real conceded due to some awful positional play by the defense. Moreover, he is playing in front of a defense that is still a work in progress. He did redeem himself against Real Betis in the next game.

As much as we are to praise Dani Carvajal for his goal that secured the top place for Real before the International break, Thibaut Courtois’s last-minute heroics to deny Betis an equalizer is worthy of the same appreciation. He is a crucial reason why Los Blancos are moving into this break as leaders of LaLiga. He already has 14 saves against shots on target and a save percentage nearing 80, per FBref.

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