Isco Alarcon’s double turned out to be enough to sink Espanyol and gather all three points at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid started the game really well, creating loads of chances and peppered the Espanyol goal with shots but Espanyol continued to trouble on the counter. Isco fired Real Madrid to a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute itself. Espanyol started the second half brightly but Isco’s second goal in the 71st minute proved enough to get them over the line eventually. Below are Real Madrid’s individual player ratings:
Keylor Navas
Rating: 8/10
Navas made two excellent saves and also claimed some aerial balls really well. He also got off the line on a few occasions to fend off danger.
Achraf Hakimi
Rating: 6/10
Hakimi was quite underwhelming. Despite getting into good positions, he often lost possession by trying to get past the defender and at other times his crosses were easily dealt with by the Espanyol defenders.
Raphael Varane
Rating: 7/10
Varane made an excellent recovery run to rescue Real Madrid in the second half. He also made some vital interceptions and smothered the Espanyol attackers for space in the box by closing them down quickly.
Sergio Ramos
Rating: 7.5/10
Apart from an error which could have lead to a goal, Ramos was superb at the back. He delivered quite a few cross-field balls and his distribution throughout the game was wonderful.
Nacho
Rating: 6.5/10
Nacho got on the overlap on numerous occasions and made some really good runs down the left.
Casemiro
Rating: 7/10
Casemiro had a decent game as he made a few vital tackles and also delivered some excellent long balls to the attackers up ahead.
Luka Modric
Rating: 8/10
Modric made some superb runs through the midfield and was very effective with his passing. His long balls were a constant feature throughout the game.
Toni Kroos
Rating: 7/10
Kroos formed a good partnership with Modric and pulled the strings really well. He could have done a little better with his set-pieces though.
Isco
Rating: 9/10
Isco had an excellent game, getting a double apart from being involved in almost all of Real Madrid’s offensive moves. He also created a lot of chances and made some good runs through the midfield.
Marco Asensio
Rating: 7/10
Asensio pulled the ball back to Isco for the second goal. He too was involved in pretty much every Real Madrid move.
Christiano Ronaldo
Rating: 7/10
Ronaldo got an important assist for Real Madrid’s first goal. He got into some really good positions but failed to finish off his chances.
Substitutes
Lucas Vazquez
Rating: 6.5/10
After coming on he had quite a lot of influence on the game but overran two really good chances in the six-yard box at the death of the game.
Dani Ceballos
Rating: N/A
Ceballos played too little to warrant a rating.
Borja Mayoral
Rating: N/A
Mayoral played too little to warrant a rating.
