Real Madrid laboured their way to an undeserved 2-0 victory over Real Valladolid, failing to convince despite picking up the points.
Marco Asensio and Gareth Bale continued to struggle and were substituted, but did anyone else play well?
Let’s find out with our player ratings.
REAL MADRID
Starting XI
Courtois 6. Didn’t look particularly comfortable and made a couple of saves with difficulty but just about managed to keep a clean sheet.
Odriozola 5. Showed willingness to attack down the right flank but couldn’t find an end product. Looked vulnerable defensively and struggled throughout.
Nacho 6. Troubled by the movement and power of Unal and was sometimes dragged out of position. Not convincing in the heart of defence.
Ramos 7. A captain’s performance, taking responsibility with wholehearted defending. Secured the win with a cheeky ‘Panenka’ penalty.
Reguilon 7. Perhaps Real’s best player on his La Liga debut. Defended solidly and got forward well, delivering some good balls into the box.
Modric 5. Continued his poor form with a pedestrian performance. Looked slow and was often easily bypassed by Valladolid’s passing.
Casemiro 7. Came close with a couple of headers from set pieces, and had a long-range curler well saved. Surprisingly substituted before the hour.
Kroos 6. Steady but passive, offering little creativity or penetration. Filled a deeper role after Casemiro’s substitution and was fine but not great.
Bale 4. Had an early header saved and sent another just wide. Offered nothing in general play and was substituted to whistles from fans.
Benzema 5. Saw an early shot deflected wide and sent a weak header straight at Matip. Won the late penalty but did not play well.
Asensio 5. Generally quiet but did create two decent chances with an excellent cross to Bale and a through ball to Benzema.
Subs
Isco 5. Introduced early in the second half but had very little impact other than some silky touches in harmless midfield areas.
Vazquez 5. Came on for Bale and was full of endeavour but lacked quality, failing to deliver anything worthwhile into the box.
Vinicius 6. Given a chance to impress and inadvertently took it with a wildly mishit shot which was deflected home for the opener.
Sergio Ramos
REAL VALLADOLID
Starting XI
Matip 7. Made a handful of routine saves and a tougher stop from Casemiro. Got a hand to the opener and probably couldn’t have done more.
Moyano 6. Did a diligent job defensively on the right, but he was pinned back by Reguilon and rarely ventured forward.
Olivas 7. Hugely unfortunate to see Vinicius’s shot hit him and take a wicked deflection into the net. Generally excellent.
Calero 7. Made two great blocks on shots from Benzema but spoiled his day with a poor foul on the Frenchman to concede the penalty.
Martinez 7. Solid defensively and got forward occasionally, including a great run and pass to set up a chance for Villa.
Antonito 6. Sent a great chance over the bar and could have done more with in possession. Made a good clearance to deny Casemiro.
Michel 6. Didn’t always make good decisions with his passing but helped knit things together in the centre of the pitch.
Alcaraz 7. Busy, active and efficient in the centre of midfield, coming close with a thumping long range strike against the bar.
Villa 7. The game’s best attacker, having one shot deflected wide, another saved by Courtois and a third crashing against the bar.
Unal 6. Led the line with good aerial presence, sending a first half header wide. Could have offered more threat in the box.
Suarez 7. Dropped back from his forward position to offer defensive support down the left and showed creativity in possession.
Subs
Verde 6. Came on midway through the second half and forced Courtois into an awkward save with a dipping and swerving long range effort.
Plano 5. Introduced for the final 15 minutes but barely had a touch as the game got away from his team.
Cop 5. Added as an extra striker as his team chased a late leveller, but the second goal was scored almost immediately and the game was up.
