Real Madrid did not make it look pretty out there, and they were actually outplayed on the road by the underdogs through the first 40 minutes. But an early Eder Militao goal, a second-half go-ahead strike from Marco Asensio, and a late goal from substitute Isco were enough to ensure Los Blancos exorcised their Alcoyano demons in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.
Here are the player ratings from Real Madrid’s 3-1 win vs. Alcoyano on Wednesday night.
GK Andriy Lunin
Andriy Lunin was arguably the Man of the Match for Real Madrid. Alcoyano peppered his goal with shots throughout the first half, and they even tested him a few times in the second stanza. But Lunin was focused and almost always up to the task. He did give up one goal, but he got a hand to it and honestly could not have been expected to make the shot from such close range.
As a whole, this was a successful start for the young Ukrainian keeper, who does not get many opportunities with the best in the world in front of him.
Rating: 7.5
LB Marcelo
On the contrary, whereas Lunin had a great game, Marcelo was quite poor, especially in the first half. He was not accurate enough with his passes, completing under 75 percent of his attempts. Marcelo was too slow defensively and on counters. Like an anchor, Marcelo helps stabilize the squad with his experience, but he also weighs the team down. And it is his increasingly evident defensive liability that concerns Madridistas the most.
Rating: 4.0
CB David Alaba
After some more nervy moments to start the match, David Alaba settled back into form, bouncing back from a poor performance over the weekend at Getafe. Alaba wasn’t great, to be honest, but he competed for every ball over the top and had to do a lot of work to make up for Marcelo’s erratic defending.
Rating: 6.0
CB Eder Militao
Like last year, Eder Militao was the hero with his head. But unlike last year, his goal meant something in an eventual victory. Without that goal against the run of play in the first half, who knows if Real Madrid would have pulled out a victory at Alcoyano? Militao was the best defender on the pitch for Los Merengues – by some distance. Always willing to try the tough pass, he had one particularly lovely long ball for Rodrygo Goes. Militao had six clearances, four tackles, and three interceptions in a vital display.
Rating: 7.5
RB Nacho Fernandez
It’s hard to remember much of what Nacho did in this game. He isn’t a real right back, so he could not offer attacking threat to Real Madrid. Nacho’s ball security could have been better, as he lost possession nine times without making a meaningful impact on the ball.
Rating: 5.5
CM Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga was Real Madrid’s standout player in the outfield, though that is not saying much because most of the XI disappointed against Alcoyano. The young Frenchman was the most passionate and active player on the pitch, and although people reading the box score may criticize him for yet another yellow card, he was the victim of a laughable call from an unqualified official.
What impressed Madridistas the most was Camavinga’s willingness to take on responsibility in a match in which more senior members of the squad, such as Eden Hazard and Marcelo, seemed to shirk their duties. Camavinga would not let Madrid lose, as evidenced by his blocked shots that saved this team.
Rating: 8.0
DM Casemiro
Casemiro had another stinker, and it is getting frustrating watching him play so inconsistently this season. He should be the best defensive midfielder on the planet, yet that tagline is hanging by a thread each time he has a match against a team he should be dominating where he makes sloppy passes. Casemiro was handing out gifts to Alcoyano, and he got dusted on the goal the home side scored to tie the match at 1-1. He had four tackles, four interceptions, and three clearances, but defense starts with ball retention, especially for big clubs. Case failed defensively for his poor passing and decision-making.
Rating: 5.0
CM Fede Valverde
I can scarcely remember a thing Fede Valverde did. We may have to have a conversation about the talented Uruguayan midfielder, because he has stagnated badly this season. Valverde was a ghost for much of the match, though he did find time to lose possession 12 times while creating nothing meaningful. He could not progress the ball against Alcoyano. It is high time he took on a more active role in the attack, because, sooner or later, fans are going to start criticizing the fan-favorite for his lack of production.
Rating: 5.0
LW Eden Hazard
The bar has been set so low for Eden Hazard that his supporters will cheer when he completes a few dribbles or draws a few fouls. Guess what? When you wear the jersey of Raul and Cristiano Ronaldo, that’s not good enough. And it is an insult to both Hazard’s true ability and to the Real Madrid shirt when you set the standard this low. The left wing position at this club is the most glamorous in world football. It is not for the faint of heart, nor is it to be disrespected by agenda-driven fans who live and die by statistics they only misuse.
Hazard played with no passion, no urgency. A game he should have dominated against an opponent literally leagues beneath him was spent wandering around the pitch. Hazard showed no character or spirit, and it is concerning to see how little confidence he has in himself. Someone needs to give him a kick in the ass or take a softer approach and give him a qualified professional who can help him regain his confidence. I prefer the second approach, and it is a matter of saving what is left of his career – a career that will be spent beyond Madrid in 2022-23.
Rating: 4.0
ST Mariano Diaz
I don’t even want to bother giving Mariano Diaz a rating. Half the time, I have no idea what he is trying to do, because he makes runs and attempts shots that no other professional would. If you look at his stat sheet, you will get an accurate representation of how he played. Without a clue in the world. He’s a hard-working player and he is not a fool, but sometimes he plays as if he is on a different pitch from his teammates. Or even a different sport entirely. But here’s the thing. Unlike some of his teammates, at least he tried.
Rating: 4.0
RW Rodrygo Goes
Rodrygo Goes was the best of the starting three, bouncing back from his own shocker against Getafe. Eden Hazard started in his preferred position, yet it was Rodrygo who looked more dangerous and lively. He was the only forward who seemed likely to take on Alcoyano’s defenders and win, so without him, Real Madrid could have had a truly long day against the upstarts.
RW Marco Asensio
Clutch again. We criticize Marco Asensio a lot for his lack of consistency, but the man is consistent at one thing. When he gets his number called off the bench, especially against a beatable opponent, he delivers. Asensio had the help of a deflection, but the important thing is that he was in the right place and didn’t screw up the finish. Literally, that’s all he needed, and it was evidently something too much for the likes of Hazard and Mariano.
Rating: 7.0