Isco scored the vital second goal of the game on Saturday afternoon, as Real Madrid battled to a 3-0 win over Alaves that flattered the home side somewhat. The underdogs enjoyed a resurgence in the second half, but were unable to make the most of it, with goals from Karim Benzema and Nacho wrapping up the victory.
The diminutive Spain international, Isco, scored from a tight angle and linked play together nicely, as Los Blancos weathered the storm and eventually coasted to a win that keeps them safely atop the table.
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Take a look at how the players fared in an exciting contest at the Santiago Bernabeu:
Real Madrid
Kiko Casilla - 6/10
Casilla commanded his penalty area fairly well, punching a few dangerous crosses away. He didn’t have too many saves to make as Alaves made a meal of hitting the target on the afternoon.
Danilo - 6.5/10
Was forced to play both at right-back and left-back due to injury problems, and was keen to try and get forward whenever he could. Danilo linked up well going forward and cut back a few very dangerous balls from the byline.
Pepe - 6/10
Pepe was quite strong in the air and stayed relatively tight to Deyverson to ensure that the Brazilian striker didn’t have too many straight runs at deliveries from the wide areas.
Raphael Varane - 5/10
The Frenchman was forced off due to injury early on, after feeling another problem with the same hamstring that has kept him out of action for the last few weeks or so.
Nacho - 7/10
Nacho reacted first to nod home a close-range finish to wrap the game up at 3-0. He was solid defensively and neat and tidy on the ball. The Spaniard didn’t have a huge impact offensively down the left flank.
Toni Kroos - 6/10
His set-piece deliveries didn’t cause the same problems as usual, as the figure of Sergio Ramos wasn’t there to aim for. Real Madrid struggled to keep possession and control in the second half as the German wasn’t at his influential best on the day.
Luka Modric - 4/10
Arguably the Croatia international’s worst performance of the season, with Mateo Kovacic replacing him in the second half. Modric didn’t offer the usual energy combined with incisiveness that was expected of him and he will be looking to put this performance behind him.
Isco - 8/10
The Spaniard moved the ball well and scored the vital goal to kill the game off as a contest in the second half. Fired home a wonderful finish from a very tight angle to ensure that Real Madrid made the most of their opportunities. Isco carried possession well and was able to drive forward with intent.
Gareth Bale - 5.5/10
The Wales international was very quiet, but did almost make the most of a good ball into the penalty area which he stroked narrowly beyond the far post. His free-kick was vital in the build-up to the third goal, as his shot clattered off the crossbar and down to Nacho.
Cristiano Ronaldo - 6/10
The Portugal international cut inside from the left-hand side dangerously in the first half, and showed plenty of intent and drive. Ronaldo did get the ball in the back of the net, but it was ruled out for offside. His second half was promising as he provided an assist for Isco’s goal.
Karim Benzema - 7/10
Benzema guided home a lovely finish to open the scoring at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, but otherwise struggled to find the space and time required to make a difference in the final third. The Frenchman had it tough against Alaves’ central defensive trio.
Substitutes
Dani Carvajal - 6/10
Introduced early on and was an asset going forward, with the Spain international keen to drive to the byline and cut back dangerous crosses. Theo Hernandez did trouble him with his pace at times defensively, though.
Mateo Kovacic - 5/10
Kovacic replaced Luka Modric in the centre of midfield late on, and helped to offer a calm presence on the ball as Real Madrid looked to close things out and ensure that Alaves didn’t hold onto any slim rays of hope.
Lucas Vazquez - 5/10
Slotted in on the right-hand side late on, as Zinedine Zidane looked to close things out by taking off a forward to shore up the midfield. Vasquez didn’t have a great deal of time to make an impact offensively.
Deportivo Alaves
Fernando Pacheco – 6/10
Pacheco didn’t have to make too many saves, but the Alaves goalkeeper was neat and tidy with his handling when called upon. He punched plenty of dangerous crosses clear and wasn’t flustered under close attention.
Gaizka Toquero – 6/10
Toquero was targetted as a weak link defensively for the away side and did struggle with that side of his game. He worked very hard and was a real offensive outlet, whipping plenty of deliveries into the penalty box from the right.
Victor Laguardia – 6/10
Laguardia picked the right times to step out of defence to make interceptions, and was an aerial presence in both penalty areas. The centre-half occasionally struggled against pacey dribbling, but was generally solid.
Rodrigo Ely – 5/10
Ely went close with a header in the second half, and wasn’t flustered all too often defensively due to Benzema struggling to find pockets of space to threaten from.
Zouhair Feddal – 6.5/10
The Moroccan was fortunate to get away with a poor challenge on Gareth Bale in the penalty area in the first half. When Alaves sat deep, the Moroccan was his usual solid self, offering the physicality required to frustrate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Theo Hernandez – 7/10
His pace was a real threat down the left-hand side for the away side. Hernandez helped to break going forward, but also recovered well to deny the driving runs of Dani Carvajal or Danilo down the right flank for Los Blancos.
Manu Garcia – 6/10
Garcia was caught out for pace occasionally in midfield and picked up a late yellow card for cynically clipping the heels of Dani Carvajal. He saw plenty of the ball and helped his side to step up and press high in the second half.
Victor Camarasa – 6/10
Camarasa covered Marcos Llorente’s absence by sitting in the holding midfield role at times. He was always glad to have possession and offered himself regularly, but lacked a final ball when he supported quick breaks upfield.
Edgar Mendez – 4/10
The Spaniard was very wasteful with his shooting in the second half, missing a fantastic chance at the back post to equalise when the scoreline was still 1-0. Mendez will be kicking himself seeing the way the game panned out.
Ibai Gomez – 6/10
Gomez whipped some good deliveries into the penalty area from out wide and offered some nice touches and drives forward when Alaves looked to push up and hurt the hosts.
Deyverson – 5/10
The Brazilian had a few headed opportunities and even spurned a good chance after Kiko Casilla failed to claim a free-kick delivery from the right-hand side. Deyverson battled well and worked hard, but couldn’t find his shooting boots.
Substitutes
Oscar Romero – 6/10
Introduced into an attacking midfield role, Romero offered a little more technical quality, but the Paraguayan still couldn’t offer the craft and guile that Mauricio Pellegrino was looking for.
Christian Santos – 4/10
Santos was thrown on as an extra striker up top, but didn’t really get the service or time to make an impact.
Aleksandar Katai – 5/10
Katai added fresh legs to the attack, but didn’t have much time to get involved and drive the visitors on. He did try to be direct with his running, but Real Madrid had much more control before he was introduced anyhow.
