Chelsea 1-3 Real Madrid: Player Ratings as Karim Benzema transcends football again
LW Vinicius Jr.
Vinicius Jr. didn’t have a pinpoint cross for Karim Benzema’s opening goal, but his assist was good enough and represented Vini making the right decision in a quick manner, which continues to be important for his development as a creator in the final third. The left winger worked incredibly hard defensively, dropping deep to help deal with the threat of Reece James. Everyone knows how important the right back is to Chelsea’s offense.
Aside from the assist, Vini was very quiet offensively, though, and you get the sense that the struggles of Toni Kroos and Ferland Mendy are weighing on Vini’s shoulders. He has such an unenviable task of being a spark out wide for Real Madrid, but he made an impact when it mattered at Stamford Bridge.
Rating: 6.5
CF Karim Benzema
By far the best player on the pitch for Real Madrid. Even accounting for one bad miss from a Jorginho gift, Karim Benzema gets another perfect 10 for a dream performance at Stamford Bridge. Without him, Real Madrid would have lost. Plain and simple.
His third goal – off a shocking error from the normally excellent Edouard Mendy – was his only easy goal. Benzema’s first two goals to start the match set the tone for the Real Madrid victory and were clearly decisive in this 3-1 win on the road. The first was a bullet of a header from a Vini Jr. cross, while the second was a more delicate, placed one from a Luka Modric cross. Both headers were aesthetic and perfect from a technical aspect, even as they were difficult chances and required very different kinds of finishes.
He truly is an inspirational figure, the perfect player for Real, and now the leading Ballon d’Or candidate (if he was not before!)
Rating: 10
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RW Fede Valverde
Fede Valverde joins Thibaut Courtois and Karim Benzema as standouts from this match without whom Real Madrid probably would not have won this game. Although Valverde’s impact on the pitch may be more subtle to the untrained eye, Madridistas understand how vital he is to the team’s success. After all, they were begging for Valverde to start in this one, and they are 100 percent glad Carlo Ancelotti did not snub him this time.
The young midfielder started on the right wing and offered more than anyone else at that position, especially in terms of his intangible qualities. Valverde’s non-stop running, pressing, recovering, and effort were especially telling in the final stages when Chelsea were pushing to close the gap from 3-1.
Rating: 7.5