Real Madrid 0-4 Barcelona: Player Ratings from an all-time awful Clasico
LM Fede Valverde
Fede Valverde is the only outfield player who will get more than a “6” match rating. He nearly scored on two occasions, nearly assisted on a couple of occasions, and never stopped trying even as many of his teammates seemed to have completely given up on the pitch. That tells me everything about his quality and his desire.
There is a reason why Madridistas love Valverde and were frustrated with Carlo Ancelotti for not giving him starts. Valverde should be starting every week going forward.
Rating: 7.0
CM Casemiro
Casemiro had a couple of key defensive interventions and did his best, but his best was very much not good enough. The 30-year-old is going to get replaced by Aurelien Tchouameni if Real Madrid are able to secure the Monaco star, because Tchouameni is nearly as good defensively and far ahead of Case on the ball. Casemiro cost the team against Barcelona with his inability to keep the ball and make the right passes. He is just too shaky in possession to be an anchor man in the modern game, and I think Florentino Perez and the key decision-makers at the Bernabeu are beginning to realize this. Hence the significant interest in Tchouameni.
Rating: 5.0
CM Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos was subbed off at the half. I don’t even know what to say about his performance, because he was on for 45 minutes and the team was in shambles. But he completed 97 percent of his passes and was the one guy who wasn’t giving the ball away left, right, and center when Real were building up out of the back. The team was even worse without him on the pitch, so I will spare him from a very poor rating.
Rating: 5.5
RM Rodrygo Goes
Rodrygo Goes continues to take a step back every time it seems like he is establishing himself as a starter for Real Madrid. His defensive work was not really where it needed to be, but, more importantly, his attacking work was shocking. Rodrygo did not carry the ball forward, did not make good decisions, and was not a good outlet for his teammates. His imprint on the game was minimal, and that’s why he was subbed just after the hour mark. I can hardly remember a positive action he had.
Rating: 4.0