Real Madrid came into Matchday 3 of the UEFA Champions League with revenge on their minds, having lost to Shakhtar Donetsk twice in last year’s Champions League campaign. Los Blancos were also coming off defeats to Sheriff and Espanyol before the international fixtures, so Carlo Ancelotti and his players had all the motivation in the world to get back on track on Tuesday night.
They did exactly that. Real Madrid had a healthy Toni Kroos, a rested Casemiro and Luka Modric joining him in midfield, and a returning Ferland Mendy. With a 4-3-3 and their usual tactical setup, Real were in their element, exacting revenge to the tune of a 5-0 victory.
Here are the player ratings.
GK Thibaut Courtois
Call it another clean sheet for Thibaut Courtois, who has been undermined by defensive errors all season long. In this game, Courtois only had to deal with about a trio of defensive breakdowns, and he stood tall each time he was threatened. Courtois made a few great saves and one vital interception just outside his box. One of those saves preserved the clean sheet very late in the match, immediately after Real had scored their fifth goal. Courtois continues to state his case for being the best keeper in the world.
Rating: 8.0
LB Ferland Mendy
Ferland Mendy reminded Real Madrid fans what they were missing for months. The best defensive fullback on the planet put on a masterclass. In just the first 10 minutes, he made his presence felt, winning the ball in his own defensive third on multiple occasions. Mendy provided width in attack, stability in defense, and an astute reading of the game. He was subbed off before the 70th-minute mark with Real up 4-0. Welcome back!
Rating: 8.5
CB David Alaba
I can’t stop making this observation. David Alaba is one of the most aware defenders you will see. The new leader of the back line, Alaba did not put a foot wrong defensively and is often there to cut out danger before it has the slightest chance of happening. He and Mendy can have quite the partnership on the left side of the defense. The 29-year-old finished the match with a team-high 89 passes, completing about 98 percent of them!
Rating: 8.0
CB Eder Militao
Eder Militao led the way with two tackles and three interceptions, joining Casemiro with a blocked shot. He had one mistake where he tried to dribble past a player one-on-one who was facing him head-on in his own penalty box, but that did not prove costly to Real Madrid. In the end, this was another solid defensive performance from a high-quality young central defender.
Rating: 7.5
RB Lucas Vazquez
Though Lucas Vazquez made the biggest mistake of the afternoon by ball-watching and failing to track a runner, which exposed Thibaut Courtois to a clear shot on goal, the makeshift right back quietly had another good game. He was a huge threat in supporting attacks, providing the cross that led to the own goal to open things up. Vazquez had two key passes and two fouls drawn on the night for Real Madrid.
Rating: 7.0