Real Madrid Player Ratings for January as Vinicius Jr., Luka Modric stand out in tricky month

LB Ferland Mendy

Ferland Mendy had a mixed bag of performances in January. But, it is really encouraging that the fullback is taking charge in the attack. He looked especially sharp against Elche in the last game of the month. He was arguably the best Real Madrid defender in El Clasico at the semifinals of the Supercup. He seemed to lack something going forward but the final few games have been encouraging. We hope he keeps this up and Real Madrid’s left flank’s dangerous character stays intact.

Rating: 6.5

LB Marcelo

The club captain didn’t have much to do in the league other than coming on against Getafe in the year’s first game in search of a goal. Other than that, Marcelo didn’t really impress in the Copa del Rey. Fans wished to see the club captain contribute to the season which could land him up as the player with the most titles with Real Madrid. Alas, few bright touches and flicks aside, Marcelo’s game seems to have receded. He played very badly against Alcoyano and couldn’t do anything meaningful against Elche. He rather picked up a straight red and attracted attention in form of a three-match ban in the Copa.

Rating: 4.0

CB Eder Militao

Eder Militao’s loss of concentration led to the goal for Getafe in the year’s first game. But, the Brazilian seemed to have shaken it off and recovered quickly. He scored a goal against Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey and one against Elche in the final game of the month. This month saw Militao’s growth as a good header of the ball. Carlo Ancelotti seems to be of the view that Militao is the best Madrid has in that department.

His goals aside, Militao handled his defensive duties well albeit that bad game in the year’s beginning. He also didn’t have the best of trips to Saudi Arabia, he really wasn’t at his best in those two Supercup games but, it didn’t matter at the end as Los Blancos ended on the victorious end.

Rating: 7.0

CB David Alaba

I wouldn’t call January to be David Alaba’s month. He looked shaky at the beginning of the month. He also missed out on the semifinal of the Supercup due to a muscular problem. But, since he returned from that injury I have definitely seen an upward curve in his performances. The last game against Elche wasn’t great but he did do more things right than wrong. I think his performance against Athletic Club was solid enough and he is emerging as a reliable name in Madrid’s defense.

Rating: 6.0

CB Nacho Fernandez

Nacho is a legend, he never could cement a starter’s role and yet, he has served this club with everything in him. January was yet another example of how valuable this man is to Real Madrid. He filled in for David Alaba in the semifinal of the Supercup against Barcelona and he also had to put in a shift as the right-back against Elche in the last 16 stages of the Copa. He wasn’t spectacular but he did get the job done. And, that is why I love our utility man.

Rating: 6.0

CB Jesus Vallejo

Jesus Vallejo was only given six minutes against Alcoyano and that isn’t enough to grade him. So I won’t give him a rating.

Rating: N/A

RB Dani Carvajal

Dani Carvajal only played in one game this month and that was the semifinal of the Supercup. He had his moments in that game but it wasn’t a great performance. He missed his blocks on a few crosses and one of them led to Barcelona’s first equalizer. He contracted COVID and couldn’t be a part of the final nor could he travel back with the team after their Supercup triumph.

Rating: 6.5

RB Lucas Vazquez

I think the job Lucas Vazquez does for Real Madrid should be seen in terms of seeing the game through without too many major mistakes than anything else and in that regard, Vazquez had a good month. He had to put in shifts at the right-back position which isn’t his natural position but has been so for more than a season now. Lucas Vazquez was reliable with his shifts but his crossing seems to frustrate me at times and so does his composure on the ball.

That being said, he has been solid defensively and has avoided major blunders. It has been three back-to-back reliable performances from Lucas Vazquez now and his job right now is invaluable in Carvajal’s absence.

Rating: 6.5