Real Madrid Player Ratings from a humbling 2-1 loss to Sheriff

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MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 28: Nacho Fernandez (R) of Real Madrid in action against Cristiano da Silva Leite (L) of Sheriff during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Real Madrid and Sheriff at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid, Spain on September 28, 2021. (Photo by Burak Akbulut/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) /

RB Nacho Fernandez

I have no idea what to say about Nacho other than the fact that he is clearly showing us that he is not a natural full-back. The string of bad games for Nacho continues, this time on the right flank. Nacho didn’t have a lot to worry about defensively as Sheriff never really broke free, apart from that sequence during the first goal, where the cross field switch was played to Cristiano. The left-back had acres of space to time his cross to perfection, and it’s not like Nacho wasn’t there. Nacho didn’t close him down. Well, he didn’t even try!

That’s what worried me the most. As for the offense, Nacho frankly had no productivity in the offense, which proves my point even better. Whenever he goes high up the pitch to support the right winger, he either wastes the chance or makes the wrong decision. The Spaniard isn’t a good crosser of the ball either, so I don’t understand why he’s still being played there.

Rating: 3.5/10

CB Eder Militao

Not much to say about Militao. He didn’t do a lot of stuff wrong. He didn’t bring a lot to the table, either. He was just sort of… there. Had a few good interventions, as always, and did well to circulate the ball. That’s all, really.

Rating: 5/10

CB David Alaba

Alaba was responsible for the first goal. Yakhshiboev, he man he was supposed to be covering was so open when the ball was crossed into the box, and it was an easy header for him since Alaba wasn’t there to track him. Even if he was, the cross was too good and too high for Alaba to defend.

Other than that, he had a few decent passes and interventions, pretty much like Militao, he was just there. He was a little more involved and a little more noticeable in the offense just because of his tendencies to strive forward, but nothing good came out of it.

Rating: 4.5/10

Miguel Gutierrez

Miguel had a few good crosses into the box, as did a lot of other players in the team, but he struggled a little defensively in the first half. Sheriff didn’t trouble him much, but when they did, Miguel didn’t look comfortable at some points during the game. Other than that, as I mentioned, he was OK.

Rating: 5/10

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