Real Madrid 3-0 Las Palmas: Player Ratings

The defending champions are currently experiencing their worst run of form under Zinedine Zidane. Before today’s game, they found themselves sitting in 4th place, a whopping 11 points behind Barcelona.

After losing two games in the space of a week, Real Madrid responded by putting three past Las Palmas at the Bernabéu. Goals from Casemiro, Marco Asensio and Isco gave Zidane’s men all three points, taking them to 3rd place. For Las Palmas, the defeat leaves them rooted in 19th place with only 2 wins in 11 games.

Here’s how the players rated:

Real Madrid

Kiko Casilla - 6/10

Real’s shot-stopper put in a better performance than he did at Wembley, but it still may not satisfy the blood-thirsty Madrid fans. However, he can at least boast his second clean sheet since the start of October.

Nacho Fernandez - 6.5/10

Zinedine Zidane decided to re-shuffle things for the visit of Las Palmas and with that, the ever-reliable Nacho Fernandez was deployed at right-back. Although not technically gifted, the Spaniard’s willingness to support the attack gave Las Palmas several problems as he continuously overloaded their right flank.

Jesus Vallejo - 5.5/10

The 20-year-old was given his first league start of the season against Las Palmas and he showcased his immaturity. The youngster at times was out of position and rash in his tackling, he also didn’t win one aerial.

Sergio Ramos - 7/10

The Los Blancos captain was a calming presence alongside his new centre-back partner. Las Palmas looked a threat on the counter-attack, but Ramos was there at all times to stop them.

Marcelo - 6/10

Marcelo was his normal busy self down the left flank, always looking to support the attack and get crosses into the box. The Brazilian successfully completed 94% of his passes.

Toni Kroos - 6.5/10

The German, calmly, but quickly spread possession from side to side throughout the game. He was the one feeding the runs of Fernandez and Marcelo, ensuring their width was capitalised on.

Casemiro - 6.5/10

The Brazilian’s positioning was all over the place but in the end, it was his 40th-minute header that set the ball in motion for Real Madrid.

Isco - 7/10

Madrid’s best player this season performed in the same way against Las Palmas, by being that creative spark in the final third. The Spaniard created 3 chances, completed 73 passes and scored 1 goal.

Marco Asensio - 7/10

In the 56th minute, the Spanish wonderkid reminded the world why he’s so highly rated by La Liga watchers. Asensio produced a half-volley from 30 yards out with such force and venom, that it nearly ripped the net apart.

Overall, the 21-year-old had a good game, he successfully completed 3 take-ons and produced 65 accurate passes.

Karim Benzema - 5/10

Real’s no.9 has come under much scrutiny this season, his lack of goals has been cited as a clear indication of his decline in ability. The Frenchman responded to that criticism, by aimlessly walking around the final third with no real purpose.

He added nothing to Real’s link-up play, neither did he look like scoring. His cameo was put to bed in the 74th minute as he was taken off for Lucas Vazquez.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 6.5/10

The closest the world’s best player came to scoring was when he curled a magnificent effort with his left foot onto the post. Besides that, the Ronaldo cut a frustrated figure up front as his poor goalscoring form continued.

However, although he couldn’t score himself, the 32-year-old was doing his best to create chances for others. His hard work was eventually rewarded as he provided an amazing assist for Isco in the 74th minute.

Substitutes:

Marcos Llorente - 6/10

The holding midfielder came on for Casemiro in the 68th minute and instantly joined several attacks, even creating a chance for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Lucas Vazquez - N/A

The Spaniard tried his best to make an impact, but his runs were ignored by others after he came on in the 75th minute.

Dani Ceballos - N/A

The young midfielder steadied the ship and protected his team’s clean sheet in the few minutes that he was deployed.

Las Palmas

Raul Liozain: 6/10

The Palmas keeper was under siege for the entire 90 minutes. The defending champions bombarded Liozain’s goal with 27 shots, to which he responded by making 6 saves and conceding 3 goals. However, the 26-year-old’s performance stands out when you consider it was only his second appearance of the season.

Michel Macedo: 6/10

The 27-year-old did his best to surge forward when he could but when playing against Marcelo, it’s almost impossible to commit yourself fully. That conscious awareness of Marcelo kept the right-back in his defensive zone for the majority of the game.

Ximo Navarro: 5.5/10

Navarro was targeted all game by Isco. The right-sided centre-back was running at by the Spaniard constantly and it was clear he couldn’t deal with it. Isco simply ran rings around him, forcing him to vacate his position severally.

Mauricio Lemos: 5/10

The most note-worthy action he completed all game was nearly conceding a penalty in the 79th minute as he viciously sliced down Nacho Fernandez. Apart from that, Lemos didn’t successfully complete 1 tackle all game.

Pedro Bigas: 5.5/10

As part of a compact back five, Bigas did his best to stay tight with his fellow defenders. He did this in order to avoid 1v1s with Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.

Dani Castellano: 5/10

Unfortunately for the full-back, he was constantly bombarded by Asensio and Fernandez, they made it their target to overload him all game, and that's why he could only make 23 passes in the 90 minutes.

Javi Castellano: 6/10

The holding midfielder did well in combat with Toni Kroos and Isco, somehow managing to produce a 93% pass accuracy. Castellano also excelled without the ball, making 4 tackles and intercepting 4 passes.

Vicente Gomez: 5/10

The 29-year-old found himself chasing shadows all game. The wizardry passing of Toni Kroos bewitched him, as he couldn’t intercept one pass. Gomez also only completed 40% of his attempted tackles.

Alberto Aquilani: 4/10

The former Liverpool man was a non-existent entity at the Bernabéu, becoming a passenger in both attack and defence. He only completed 15 passes in his time on the pitch.

Jonathan Calleri: 5/10

The frustrated striker tried to press Ramos and Vallejo all game, but with Kroos dropping deep, they just passed around him in triangles. In the end, the only contribution he provided was when he missed from 5 yards out, but his blushes were spared by the linesman.

Vitolo: 5.5/10

The 28-year-old striker did his best to revive Las Palmas on the counter-attack, but with limited support, his efforts were in vain. He completed 4 dribbles in transition and won 50% of his aerial duels.

Substitutes:

Loic Remy: 5

The former Chelsea striker looked a shell of his former self in the yellow and blue colours of Las Palmas. He came on in th 64th minute and had enough time to make an impact, but still couldn't.

Hernan Santana: N/A

The central midfielder came on for Aquilani in the dying minutes to restore midfield balance, but couldn't influence the game much.