Real Madrid sought to exorcise their Copa del Rey demons against Real Sociedad, who once blew them out of the competition early in the 2019/20 campaign when Alexander Isak lambasted the Blancos defense in the quarterfinals.
They got off to the right start at the venerable Anoeta on Wednesday night, with Endrick securing a 1-0 win for Real Madrid after latching onto another brilliant Jude Bellingham through pass.
With the second leg still on the horizon in the Copa del Rey semifinals, let's hand out some player ratings to all the Real Madrid starters from this narrow victory over La Real.
Real Madrid player ratings after beating Real Sociedad 0-1
GK: Andriy Lunin
Made a couple of big saves and earned his clean sheet. What I admire the most about Andriy Lunin in goal is his poise. No matter the game state or even how many matches it's been since he's started, you can always count on the Ukrainian to deliver a solid performance for Real Madrid. Rating: 7.5
LB: Fran Garcia
The quality of his display may be up for debate because of the number of times Takefusa Kubo was able to beat him one-on-one, but Fran Garcia probably won more battles than he lost and did a decent job, all told, when factoring in how hard he worked to provide an outlet going forward for Vinicius Junior. Fran remains the best option at left-back, even if he isn't 100 percent convincing. Rating: 6.0
CB: Antonio Rudiger
Poised and intelligent, this is the best of what Antonio Rudiger can provide as a center-back. The German international was strong in the air and alert to the danger on the ground against Kubo, who loves to move inside the half-spaces. Rudiger's distribution could have been better, but that is a nitpick in what was otherwise a commanding defensive display in this clean-sheet victory on the road. Rating: 8.0
CB: Aurelien Tchouameni
I've been skeptical of Tchouameni's displays as a center back this season, and while it is very much not his natural position, the Frenchman was quite excellent in this match against La Real. Tchouameni, from the moment he stepped foot in Madrid, has impressed fans and members of the club alike with his intelligence and aptitude for learning.
Well, Tchou appears to be putting some of the pieces together at center-back, as his "help" defense and reading of the game off the ball were significantly improved. Tchouameni made a few goal-saving interventions against Real Sociedad and was quality on the ball, including a backheel key pass at the end of the game for Jude Bellingham after he moved back to a midfield position. Rating: 8.0
RB: Raul Asencio
Hooked off the first of the Real Madrid starters after a nondescript performance at right back. Raul Asencio is clearly superior playing centrally, as he can't get forward offensively and is a little too aggressive with coming in central positions when out of possession. Yes, Real Madrid needs another right back. Rating: 5.0
CM: Eduardo Camavinga
A highly underrated display from the Frenchman, who, himself, has become highly underrated outside of Madrid. Camavinga deserves to be a regular starter for the Merengues because of his work rate and class on the ball. As was the case on Wednesday night, Camavinga scarcely misplaced a pass and put in a real shift defensively box-to-box with plenty of tackles won. Rating: 7.5
CM: Dani Ceballos
Proving to be a real asset to Real Madrid in the post-Toni Kroos era, Dani Ceballos delivered another workman-like performance for the Merengues with four tackles, matching Camavinga's numbers, as he and the young Frenchman ruled the pitch in box-to-box capacities. Hopefully, the knock Ceballos suffered in the dying embers of the victory isn't too serious because Real Madrid needs his work rate and added touch for flair in the middle of the park this season. Rating: 7.5
AM: Jude Bellingham
The Man of the Match, bar none, Jude Bellingham created the lone goal of the match out of sheer nothingness with a gorgeous through pass to Endrick that was weighted to perfection. That pass has become something of a trademark of his in Madrid, and he nearly had a few more assists, amassing six key passes in a real playmaker's display.
As per usual, Bellingham was just as good defensively, and it is truly astonishing how he is able to elevate his game as a leader and midfielder on these big stages in hostile environments. Rating: 8.5
LW: Vinicius Junior
While Vinicius Junior worked hard on both ends of the pitch and did a great job of offering Fran Garcia defensive support, which suddenly became a criticism of his game in recent weeks, the Brazilian superstar was a little too sloppy in possession. He only won one of his five attempted dribbles and had a marginal impact as a creator.
Once again, Vinicius Jr. hurts himself by not passing the ball off early enough in the one-twos in the box, and he needs to be more pass-first than shoot-first as a winger, especially when he has two better finishers occupying central positions in Endrick and Jude Bellingham. Rating: 6.5
ST: Endrick
A slick, composed finish with the outside of his boot to catch Alex Remiro, one of the best goalkeepers in Spanish football, off guard. Endrick is mature beyond his years and is already one of the best forwards in La Liga, but even though he impressed and scored in another important game, the Brazilian youngster also showed that he still needs a little more ironing out before he can receive more minutes.
Endrick could stand to be more present creatively on the ball, as that additional bit of character is needed from a regular No. 9 in Madrid. That will, of course, come with patience and time. Rating: 7.0
RW: Arda Guler
As a whole, the right flank was the quieter one for Real Madrid, and while a part of that is down to the fact that Raul Asencio isn't much of an attacking threat, Arda Guler wasn't as involved as maybe he would have liked. Still, Guler did create a chance and draw a few fouls from the Real Sociedad defense, and, overall, he wasn't bad.
But Guler continues to prove why Carlo Ancelotti doesn't start him more; he needs to demand the ball more and be more assertive in transitions while offering more direct chance creation. Rating: 6.0