Real Madrid 4-1 Real Sociedad: Player Ratings from the best match in a while
Real Madrid defeated Real Sociedad 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on LaLiga’s Matchday 27. It is safe to say that this was Los Blancos’ best performance in a long time. The match started out on the wrong foot after Dani Carvajal’s silly challenge gifted La Real a penalty that Mikel Oyarzabal converted perfectly, but Madrid responded with first-half wondergoals from their midfielders.
In the end, Los Merengues took full control of the game and picked up a confidence-boosting win over a tough LaLiga side before their second leg clash with PSG in the Champions League.
Here are the player ratings from Real Madrid’s 4-1 win over La Real. Juxtapose that with PSG losing 1-0 to a top Ligue 1 side, Nice, at the exact same time on Saturday.
GK Thibaut Courtois
Thankfully, Thibaut Courtois was not a standout for Real Madrid in this game, because it means the team actually did its job and was organized. Courtois was protected greatly by the world-class center backs in the first half, so even when Real Sociedad looked dangerous and were not pinned back, Courtois only had to face the penalty among the tough chances. And obviously, you cannot fault a keeper for surrendering a goal from the spot.
Rating: 6.0
LB Ferland Mendy
Ferland Mendy was not troubled at all defensively. Real Sociedad’s right side carried absolutely no threat to the Frenchman, who played a smart, composed game at left back. You could maybe pick at him a little bit for not offering Vinicius Jr. much in terms of dynamic support, which put a lot on the left winger’s plate. But as a whole, Mendy was fine.
Rating: 6.5
CB David Alaba
Another excellent performance from David Alaba, who seems to always be in the right place at the right time. The 29-year-old did not even have to make a tackle or an interception, which falls under the Paolo Maldini class of defending. Meaning, Alaba was on such a level in reading the game that he never had to make the tackle in the first place. He is one of those players who makes everyone around him better, even if subtly so.
Rating: 7.5
CB Eder Militao
When Real Madrid last faced Real Sociedad, Eder Miltao earned a perfect 10. While he could not quite earn the same marks in this one, Militao still scored extremely highly with another defensive masterclass, pocketing the dangerous La Real forward line. Alexander Isak looked powerless in the face of Militao’s astute, strong defending. Militao owned him in every way, putting his body on the line and shielding the frustrated Swede on this night.
Rating: 8.0
RB Dani Carvajal
Dani Carvajal sure redeemed himself. He had Madridistas enraged after he made another woeful defensive error, gifting La Real an early penalty with a needless challenge on David Silva. That led to Mikel Oyarzabal sinking the penalty, putting Madrid in an early hole.
But Carvajal’s defending improved markedly, as evidenced by a more patient one-on-one against the goal-scorer, Oyarzabal, to assure Los Blancos would not yield a counterattack goal to go down 2-0.
Carvajal created a goal late in the match as well, atoning for an attacking mistake in which he made a poor cross after Rodrygo won the ball in the opponent’s box. His cut-back for the substitute Marco Asensio was picture-perfect.
All Real Madrid fans want to see from Carvajal is some consistency. Is that so much to ask? More of what we saw in the second half, less of what we saw in the first.
Rating: 6.5