Real Madrid 5-2 Real Sociedad: Player Ratings

Real Madrid

Zidane's team blew Sociedad away in the first 45 minutes

Keylor Navas – 6

Navas had almost nothing to do until Bautista was racing through one on one in the 74th minute and slotted the ball home. He could do nothing about it and then he was also frustrated by the poor defending which saw Madrid and him concede a second. He’ll be disappointed he couldn’t keep a clean sheet.

Dani Carvajal – 6

Carvajal put in a strong first-half performance and combined well with Vazquez but eased off in the second half and paid the price, picking up a yellow card and making a big error which led to Bautista’s goal.

Sergio Ramos – 6

Ramos played out from the back well, but unfortunately, it’s another performance where he was part of a back four who conceded more than one goal.

Raphael Varane – 6

Varane didn’t put a foot wrong all night, but the fact Madrid were so in control meant his team-mates were concentrating less, and it saw him be part of a defence that eventually conceded two.

Marcelo – 8

Marcelo, as he does so often, put in another wonderful display. The Brazilian gets up and down the pitch with ease and gave Odriozola so many problems, along with Asensio. Furthermore, his cut back for Ronaldo’s opening goal was pinpoint as he got another assist for the season.

Lucas Vazquez – 8

On a rare start, Vazquez scored an excellent header inside a minute to give Madrid the lead. He then continued to give de la Bella problems throughout the night and even got the assist for Kroos’s goal.

Luka Modric – 6

Modric didn’t perform poorly but just didn’t stand out like he usually does. His position was a bit more defensive than usual and might have hindered his performance slightly.

Toni Kroos – 8

Fantastic goal from outside the box

Marco Asensio – 8

The Spaniard, playing on the left, was roaming and weaving in and out of Sociedad’s midfield with ease. For Ronaldo’s goal, a great bit of skill allowed him to play through Marcelo who got the assist. It was a great return to the line-up for Asensio.

Karim Benzema – 6

Right at the very end with the chance to score Madrid’s sixth, Benzema blazed over the bar from close range and was jeered by the Madrid fans. Even despite Madrid’s dominance and their five goals, Benzema still wasn’t able to get on the scoresheet and was barely in the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo – 10

Right from the off Ronaldo looked set to put in a world-class performance. First, he set up Vazquez’s goal after 48 seconds, before scoring two in the first half himself.

One being a neat finish from close range and the other being a great header. Then, the inevitable happened as he grabbed his hat-trick late in the second half, rounding the keeper and passing into an open goal.

Ronaldo's hat-trick silences his critics

Substitutions

Isco – 6

Isco, given a rest ahead of Madrid’s tie with PSG, came on for the final 27 minutes and did nothing spectacular, but kept possession well.

Mateo Kovacic – 6

Madrid were surrendering lots of possession and easing off, so Kovacic remained comfortable in possession but made no impact.

Gareth Bale – 7

Even playing just 17 minutes, Bale brought the intensity back to Madrid’s attack, and it was no surprise they scored again in the second half after his arrival and his shot was parried to Ronaldo for his hat-trick.