Real Madrid’s issues against low-blocks in LaLiga have been well-documented, and Madridistas watched as their team ended a winning streak by drawing 0-0 in another display marked by an inability to break through a 10-man defense.
Although Los Blancos dominated with over 80 percent possession and had more than 30 shots, they created very little that was meaningful against a Cadiz side that stuffed the box. Much like the 0-0 draw against Osasuna at the Santiago Bernabeu, you never got the feeling that Real were going to come away with the three points.
Here are the player ratings from Real Madrid’s 0-0 draw with Cadiz.
GK Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois did not have much to do in goal. Cadiz only created a couple of chances, as they spent the vast majority of the match on the defensive.
Rating: 6.0
LB Ferland Mendy
Ferland Mendy recorded two tackles, per WhoScored.com, and he was never troubled defensively. But these are the kinds of games where you realize his limitations on the ball do affect Real Madrid negatively. He created nothing meaningful and looked a little scared to take the initiative with his passing.
Rating: 5.0
CB David Alaba
David Alaba completed nearly 95 percent of his passes and was never troubled defensively by Cadiz either. I wish Carlo Ancelotti had him push high up the pitch sooner or at least get him in a ‘quarterback’ position in the middle of the pitch to help recycle the ball and create.
Rating: 7.0
CB Eder Militao
It’s hilarious watching how much faster Eder Militao is than the forwards on the other team. He led Real Madrid with three interceptions and was as massive as ever defensively. Yes, it was just Cadiz, but without Militao’s covering, the Yellow Submarine may have walked away with three points just like last season via a counterattack goal.
Rating: 7.5
RB Lucas Vazquez
Thank goodness Lucas Vazquez was not as woeful in the second half, but he cannot rescue a positive day for himself. The right-sided wide man delivered some of the most atrocious crosses we have seen this season. He worked hard defensively and eventually did a nice job of recycling the ball in the match’s second stanza, but I cannot get over how clumsy he was in the first half. That was 45 minutes of wasted time.
Rating: 4.0