Somehow, someway, Real Madrid only lost by one goal at the Etihad despite things looking beyond desperate at times.
Los Blancos conceded to Kevin de Bruyne in the first minute, and then they gave up a second goal. At several points in the match, they were down by two goals. There were moments when they were hopelessly outclassed on the ball, as Manchester City showed them another level tactically, just as Chelsea did in the second leg of Real’s last Champions League night.
In the end, Real, as they always do, did enough to keep their hopes alive. By only losing 4-3, Los Merengues have a shot at another Remontada at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg.
Here are the player ratings from Real Madrid’s 4-3 loss to Manchester City on Tuesday night in the Champions League semifinals.
GK Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois could do nothing about any of the goals Manchester City scored, including the outrageous goal from Bernardo Silva.
Rating: 6.0
LB Ferland Mendy
Honestly, this was another poor performance from Ferland Mendy, who made a couple of giveaways that led to either a goal for Manchester City or a great chance for the home side. Mendy offers so little on the ball and offensively that it is hard to believe he has a long-term future at Real Madrid. With Antonio Rudiger on his way, Mendy’s minutes at left back could easily be given to David Alaba next season. That said, he did well to assist Karim Benzema’s opener.
Rating: 5.0
CB David Alaba
Speaking of Alaba, the Austrian defender played injured against City and was unable to continue in the second half. He made a bizarre mistake for Gabriel Jesus’ goal that made things 2-0 for the Cityzens, but he also calmed down to have a couple of decisive interventions thereafter. Even at his worst, Alaba was probably Real’s best defender.
Rating: 5.5
CB Eder Militao
Atrocious at times, Eder Militao made some terrible one-on-one gambles that led to great chances for Manchester City, and he was the luckiest man on the pitch in the sense that the Cityzens honestly did not punish the center back’s mistakes nearly enough. Militao is having a great season, but lately he has been surprisingly poor. Madridistas oped Militao would bounce back in the big game at the Etihad, but he actually took a step backward. He also has this terrible habit of dribbling towards his own half instead of immediately clearing it.
One positive? Militao is always looking to play the progressive pass, and he had a couple of nice long balls for Rodrygo Goes.
Rating: 4.0
RB Dani Carvajal
A liability the last time Real Madrid faced Manchester City in the Champions League knockouts in the 2019/20 season, Dani Carvajal was probably culpable for losing his marker inside of him on two of City’s goals this Tuesday night.
Carvajal’s performances at the highest level have left a lot to be desired this season, whether against PSG, Barcelona, or, now, Man City. He did at least have one good cross to Militao, which the center back wasted with yet another disappointing header.
Rating: 4.0
CM Toni Kroos
The worst midfielder on the pitch for Real Madrid, Toni Kroos was highlighted as maybe the most decisive player for the Merengues against Manchester City. And in truth, he did end up deciding the game through his disappointing performance, and Madridistas are still flabbergasted that Carlo Ancelotti did not sub him at any point in the match. Instead, he took out Rodrygo Goes for Eduardo Camavinga to move Fede Valverde to the wing and then inexplicably took out his top performer, Luka Modric, for Dani Ceballos.
Kroos was destroyed defensively just as badly as he was in the second leg against Chelsea, when he was taken out directly for Camavinga. Much to his chagrin. (Maybe Carlo Ancelotti was afraid of another reaction like that!)
Real Madrid have seen volatile performances from Kroos, and he has been overrun in big Champions League games where the team does not have control. Overall, he’s had a good season, but this was another one of those games where Camavinga would have been better in. Casemiro was indeed missed.
Rating: 4.0
DM Luka Modric
Meanwhile, Luka Modric was fantastic, and I truly believe football fans need to be talking more about the performance he had against Manchester City. Without him, Real Madrid would have never been able to keep the ball, carry the ball, or have a prayer at scoring three goals. Modric dribbled out of so many tight spaces, made so many great decisions, and had a few magical dribbles and passes that nearly led to something concrete for his team.
Modric is absolutely a Ballon d’Or candidate, and his excellence should not get overshadowed despite the fact that he was subbed and was not among the Madrid goal-scorers at the Etihad.
Rating: 8.0
CM Fede Valverde
Fede Valverde was more effective on the wing than in midfield in this game, where he found it tough to move the ball against Manchester City’s elite and well-organized midfield group. Despit not being as influential on the ball, Valverde was very important off it, swarming City and stifling a few counterattacks with his tireless running. Valverde is an easy player to underrate, but I know in my heart that if he did not start this game, Madrid would have lost by three.
Rating: 6.5
LW Vinicius Jr.
Though Vinicius Jr. was a bit wasteful in the final third and made a few bizarre decisions, including his lifted shot on his last action late in the game before being subbed for Marco Asensio, he made up for all those inconsistencies with a sublime bit of skill to dust Fernandinho and score a wonderful solo goal.
Vinicius is capable of the sublime from nothing, just like his other world-class attacking teammates Luka Modric and Karim Benzema. Close to truly putting all the pieces together, Vini is already a top player in his own right, and he was Madrid’s most dangerous presence in this 4-3 defeat on the road.
Rating: 7.0
CF Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema seemed to struggle with getting involved in the game and had a few wayward passes, just not quite on the same wavelength as Vinicius Jr. to take advantage of a few sloppy backpasses in the first half from Manchester City.
Of course, it was Karim who delivered the goods first for Real Madrid, giving Los Blancos hope and a route back into the game after they went down 2-0 early, scoring on the slightest of opportunities. It was a brilliant finish.
And then in the second half, Karim made up for his missed penalties against Osasuna, cutting the deficit to 4-3 with a Panenka. It was a confident move from a striker who had missed aiming to the same spot in recent weeks, instead watching Ederson and calmly chipping the ball down the middle for a statement-making goal. Yet again, Real Madrid would have been embarrassed in the Champions League without their legendary No. 9. It is also no surprise that he led the team with three key passes.
Rating: 7.5
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RW Rodrygo Goes
Rodrygo Goes worked hard, but he seemed to be out of his depth at times, thinking he had more time and space than he truly did against Manchester City. He was important in supporting Dani Carvajal against the talented left side of City’s formation, sitting deep and defending the flank as well as the right back could have.
Rating: 5.5