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Real Madrid bounced back from their humiliating defeat in London, with a formidable 6-0 win over Cypriot minnows APOEL FC in the UEFA Champions League. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo (2), Karim Benzema (2), Luka Modric and Nacho Fernandez gave Zidane’s men a comfortable win in Cyprus.
This 6-0 win gives Madrid a superior goal difference to group leaders Tottenham, but despite only 3 points separating them, the head-to-head rule assures Tottenham a 1st-place finish, leaving Madrid the second spot on the table.
Here’s how the players for both teams rated after last night's encounter:
APOEL FC
Nauzet Perez: 4/10
After an injury scare in the first few minutes, the Spaniard’s night somehow got worse from there on. The 32-year-old went on to concede 6 goals and he didn’t look like saving a single one of them either.
Praxitelis Vouros: 5/10
The slow right-back had no joy going forward and in defence, he was completely overrun. Cristiano Ronaldo regularly drifted in from the left to centre, forcing Vourous to abandon his position at times. This led to irregularities in APOEL’s defensive organisation, opening up more space for Real Madrid to exploit.
Jesus Rueda: 4/10
The APOEL defence were run ragged throughout the game by a rampant Real attack. So much so that Rueda resembled a headless chicken at times as he could only chase shadows at best. In fact, it was his error that led to Cristiano scoring his 2nd of the game.
Carlao: 5/10
Karim Benzema basically used Carlao as a training cone on several occasions. The Frenchman’s runs were so good that Carlao couldn’t even get near him, let alone play him offside. Instead, Benzema kept running off of the Brazilian. Real’s attackers were so untouchable that Carlao didn’t successfully make one tackle all game.
Roberto Lago: 5/10
Playing against Real Madrid is always difficult, especially when you consider the fact that they have the best full-backs in the world. Dani Carvajal is the model example of an attacking right-back, and his constant runs down the right thus pinned Lago in his own defensive third.
Nuno Morais: 5/10
The holding midfielder was powerless to stop Toni Kroos and Luka Modric from dominating the game. Off the ball, he struggled to make interceptions (0) and on it, he failed to influence the game at all. The game basically bypassed him from start to finish.
Vinicius: 5/10
Vinicius did his best to join the attack when he could, but when he did, he left gaping holes in the midfield. Space Real Madrid simply used to counter-attack and hit APOEL for six. The 31-year-old only made 24 passes all game.
Ghayas Zahid: 5/10
The Norwegian winger hardly influenced the game at all, in fact, he basically acted as a defender most of the game. To his credit, the 23-year-old created 2 chances and attempted 1 shot on goal. But his effectiveness was limited due to his burdening defensive responsibilities.
Roland Sallai: 4/10
The central attacking midfielder tried to overload a resolute Madrid defence, but with a clear lack of support, there was not much he could do. The 20-year-old didn’t create a single chance all game and only completed 8 passes throughout the game.
Efstathios Aloneftis: 6/10
If there was ever an attacking spark in APOEL’s attack, it came through the exploits of Aloneftis. The 34-year-old Cypriot was a livewire down the left-hand side, regularly giving the world’s best right-back - Carvajal a torrid time. The winger created 2 chances, had 3 shots on goal completed 1 successful take-on.
Mickael Pote: 5/10
The 33-year-old striker made several runs into the attacking third, but the lack of service to him rendered his movement useless. Instead, he cut a frustrated and isolated figure up front. The striker was dispossessed twice and didn’t manage one shot on target.
Substitutes:
Agustin Farias: 4/10
Farias had plenty of time to affect the game, but he didn’t do that all. He just came on as a substitute to be a passenger in midfield.
Georgios Efrem: 5.5/10
The 28-year-old came on to steady the ship for APOEL. He maintained a fantastic 90% passing accuracy, helping the Cypriot team restore some kind of balance in the second half.
Lorenzo Ebecilio: 4/10
With just 24 minutes to affect the game, the 26-year-old added more to APOEL’s problems than solutions. He completed 6 passes in that time, giving the ball away 4 times.
Real Madrid
Kiko Casilla: 6.5/10
Real’s 2nd choice keeper did what was asked of him tonight. APOEL threatened Real’s goal a bit but when they seriously attacked, Casilla was there as an immovable object to thwart. The 31-year-old made 3 saves and claimed 1 cross in a relatively comfortable night.
Dani Carvajal: 6.5/10
It’s clear to everyone that the Spanish full-back brings so much to Real’s attacking play. Not just in aggression, but also in penetration. The Spaniard completed 2 take-ons, won 4 tackles, won 1 aerial and completed 55 passes.
Raphael Varane: 6.5/10
The Frenchman didn’t find himself tested at all game. He covered space well, tracked the runs of Pote and ensured he maintained Real’s high defensive line. This game basically helped ease the youngster back into fitness following his torrid time with injuries in recent months.
Nacho Fernandez: 7/10
The versatile defender pounced onto a Varane header to seal the game for Real Madrid in the 40th minute.
At the start of the season, many felt the presence of Nacho Fernandez as Real’s 4th choice centre-back would be a hindrance, but he has truly become a gem for Zinedine Zidane. Nacho won 3 aerials, won 2 tackles, completed 93% of his passes and scored 1 goal. It’s almost as if Sergio Ramos didn’t go anywhere.
Marcelo: 6/10
For his relatively high standards, Marcelo had a quiet game. Even with all the attacking freedom APOEL afforded him, Marcelo was unable to really affect the game.
Lucas Vasquez: 6/10
The hard-working 28-year-old ran tirelessly all game without really doing anything. If anything, he was an ever-present passing option on the counter-attack, that was it. He’ll be disappointed that he couldn’t register an assist or goal against such poor opposition.
Luka Modric: 7/10
A stunning volley in the 23rd minute from the Croatian gave his team a crucial lead in Cyprus. Besides scoring a worldie of a goal, Modric also ran the game with his deaf touches, silky turns and defence-splitting passes. The Croatian completed 90% of his passes and to be fair, we wouldn't expect anything less from the little magician.
Toni Kroos: 7/10
Toni Kroos may not be the quickest or strongest, but he’s technically above most players on the planet. His ability to spot a pass is second to none, and it was through his vision that Real Madrid created most of their chances. He initiated nearly every counter-attack, created 2 chances whilst completing 50 passes.
Marco Asensio: 6/10
The young Spaniard was lively on the ball, but just like Vasquez, he failed to make any meaningful contribution to the game. He did create 2 chances and complete 69 passes, but couldn’t find his shooting boots.
Karim Benzema: 8/10
The Frenchman scored his 2nd goal of the season, as he latched onto a Toni Kroos through ball to put Real 2-0 up in the 38th minute. Benzema doubled his tally just before half-time after being expertly set up by Cristiano Ronaldo. He also returned the favour, later on, by assisting Ronaldo. Goal drought? What goal drought?
Cristiano Ronaldo: 8.5/10
The best player in the world scored his 7th goal of the UEFA Champions League campaign with a beautiful header in the 49th minute. But he didn’t feel like stopping there, he went on goal to score another and assist one more.
The 32-year-old has now become the first man to score 18 UCL goals in a calendar year. The record-breaking superstar was simply stunning tonight and Madridstas will be praying he can translate his unrivalled UCL form into La Liga on the weekend.
Substitutes:
Theo Hernandez: 5.5/10
Hernandez tried his best to add to Real’s substantial goal tally. His energy was infectious but didn’t translate into anything substantial.
Dani Ceballos: 6.5/10
The 21-year-old came on for Toni Kroos and did his best to replicate the German’s exceptional passing range. In just 31 minutes on the pitch, he racked up 40 passes with an impressive 89% passing accuracy.
Borja Mayoral: 5.5/10
Mayoral completed 12 passes, created 1 chance and attempted 1 shot on goal, but didn't have enough time to affect the game any more than he did.
