Real Madrid Player Ratings: Vinicius Junior the bright star in fortunate win vs. Shakhtar
LW Vinicius Junior
The best player on the pitch. By far. He was the one running at the defense, carrying the ball, and creating chances. It’s only fitting he had the two assists, including one that he created out of thin air with his pressure. Vinicius Junior is operating at another level right now. You just can’t help but wonder how good this team would be if more of his teammates stepped up to the plate and played to their potential. He had five key passes and five dribbles completed. Toni Kroos and Luka Modric had two key passes combined. Let that sink in. Hell, he even led the team with four tackles!
Rating: 8.5
CF Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema asked to be subbed off with a potential injury, and Madridistas can only hope the No. 9 is OK. He scored both goals in this match, as he was in the right place at the right time to turn home Vinicius Junior’s passes. In truth, this wasn’t the best match from Benzema in terms of his influence, movement, or technical decision-making. For example, he went for a curler when the ball was too close to him, and he had a woeful first-half free kick. But Benz made it count when he needed to. That’s all that matters for strikers, at the end of the day.
Rating: 7.0
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RW Lucas Vazquez
If Vinicius Junior was the best player on the pitch for Real Madrid by a wide margin, then Lucas Vazquez was in second. Some fans were puzzled he started over Eden Hazard, but he proved Carlo Ancelotti right. Vazquez had some brilliant combinations in this one, including an early sequence that should have led to a goal for Luka Modric. He defended with everything he had, too, which is why Ancelotti started him in the first place. A great all-around performance from him.
Rating: 7.5