Real Madrid extended their winning run in La Liga to four games after registering a 2-0 win over Espanyol at Santiago Bernabeu earlier today.
The Spanish giants weren’t at their best in this early kick-off, often looking sluggish in possession and passing. But, their neat play in the offensive third was just enough to bamboozle an Espanyol side that is now winless in their five competitive matches. The Catalans were brave, at times, employing a high press and trying to create turnovers in midfield.
But, it was the quality of the Real Madrid players, which eventually helped them seal a victory. They do, however, deserve credit for being solid at the back. And here is how Zinedine Zidane’s men performed in their win over Espanyol this afternoon.
Thibaut Courtois 6
Barely had anything to do as Espanyol could only muster two shots on target. It was a quiet game for the Belgian shot-stopper.
Danny Carvajal 7.5
Carvajal was solid during defensive phases, which was crucial for Real Madrid, especially when they moved forward. The Spaniard, therefore, helped them gain a perfect balance.
Raphael Varane 8.5
One of the best performers in the game, Varane was rock solid at the back. He barely offered any space to the likes of Wu Lei or Jonathan Calleri and also played a crucial role in the build-up. Also deserves credit for making full of his opportunity to score the opener in the first half.
Sergio Ramos 8
Ramos’ leadership at the back was important as Espanyol attackers failed to provide any real threat for the Madrid backline. The veteran defender cleared out several long-ball attempts from the opposition.
Ferland Mendy 7
Mendy was pretty consistent throughout the game, often getting the better of Aleix Vidal on the left flank. But, it was pretty irresponsible of him to make two rash challenges, which eventually led to his dismissal.
Federico Valverde 8
Valverde once again showed precisely what he is capable with an amazing performance in midfield. The youngster helped Real Madrid ease their transition while his trickery was always useful, with the midfielder notably providing the assist for Benzema’s late goal. A stunning talent.
Casemiro 8.5
Casemiro was perhaps the pick of the players in midfield this afternoon. The Brazilian was responsible for providing the solidity in the middle of the park while his ball-distribution was also top-notch.
Toni Kroos 6
An uncharacteristically bad performance from the German, who pretty much looked tired for the most part of the game. He appeared tentative, at times while his passing was also questionable. He was deservedly taken off during the final phase of the game.
Rodrygo 6.5
Had a slow start to the game. But, the young Brazilian gradually improved, providing more threat to the Espanyol backline. That being said, it was not enough to actually make any impact to the proceedings as the winger eventually made way for Brahim Diaz late in the game.
Karim Benzema 9
By far the best performer of the match, Benzema ruled the show with his lovely interplay. He was surprisingly the creator-in-chief in the Real Madrid team, tracking back, connecting the dots and influencing the build-up. In the end, the Frenchman capped off his brilliant display with a goal late in the game.
Vinicius Junior 7.5
Unlike his compatriot, Rodrygo, Vinicius made quite an impact to the proceedings. His pace and trickery on the flanks caused a lot of problems for the opposition. He also covered a lot of ground and combined well, at times, with his fellow attackers.
SUBSTITUTES
Luka Modric 6.5
Replaced the ineffective Kroos in the 71st minute and provided a sense of composure in the Real Madrid midfield.
Brahim Diaz N/A
Came on for Rodrygo in the 85th minute.
Eder Militao N/A
Had to come on for Vinicius Junior following Mendy’s dismissal. The Brazilian was slotted into the backline, helping Real Madrid see out their two goal advantage.
