Juventus 0-3 Real Madrid: Player Ratings

Juventus v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One
Gigi Buffon appreciates Ronaldo's outstanding performance

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a stunning overhead kick as Real Madrid thrashed Juventus at Turin to virtually guarantee their progress into the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The Portuguese converted Isco's square pass after just 2 minutes to score in his 10th consecutive Champions League game - breaking Ruud van Nistelrooy's record in the process.

Although Juventus pressed hard since, their job was made even harder when Ronaldo measured the weight of Lucas Vazquez's cross before setting himself up to acrobatically dispatch the ball past a rooted Gigi Buffon to receive a standing ovation from both sets of fans.

The tie was effectively over when Paulo Dybala was shown a second yellow card for a dangerous challenge on Dani Carvajal before Marcelo ensured that the second leg would be almost academic with an easy finish after initially chipping Buffon.

Here are the player ratings from a pulsating game at Turin.


Juventus

Juventus v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One
Dybala's sending off killed the tie as a contest

Gianluigi Buffon - 6/10

The veteran keeper saved well on many occasions, but he was often caught in indecision between himself and his centre-halves, one such instance being in the build-up to Ronaldo's show-stopping goal.

Mattia de Sciglio - 6/10

De Sciglio could be held accountable for the first goal, failing to track the run of Marcelo down the wing, allowing him the space to run and locate Isco. He pressed forward many times and got close with a shot from the edge of the box.

Giorgio Chiellini - 6/10

Although his positioning was good, Chiellini was unusually error-prone in the game, getting involved in mix-ups and fluffed clearances to literally hand the tie over to Real Madrid.

Andrea Barzagli - 5.5/10

Barzagli struggled in the game, unable to track his marker during set-pieces and crumbling under pressure from Real Madrid's attacking players while trying to play from the back. It was always going to be a long night for the Old Lady when their usually reliable defence make mistakes.

Kwadwo Asamoah - 6.5/10

The winger, playing at full-back, had to risk going forward as Juventus were chasing the tie from the outset. He linked well with Alex Sandro and got into promising positions without being able to produce the final product.

Douglas Costa - 6/10

Costa was quick and a treat to watch when on the ball, but his decision making left a lot to be desired. His crosses were disappointing, so was his inability to decide whether to run goal-side or across the defender when the ball was played to him in the box.

Rodrigo Bentancur - 6/10

The young midfielder - deputizing for the suspended Miralem Pjanic - made a few robust tackles, but is nowhere near the drive and attacking threat that Pjanic brings to the Juventus side. His shots were well off target and he clearly lacked the confidence to take the game to Real Madrid's midfield.

Sami Khedira - 7/10

The German was one of Juventus' better players on a highly frustrating night for them, going forward and getting himself involved in most attacks. He was part of quick one-touch passes with Dybala, Asamoah and Higuain at the edge of the box to unsettle Real Madrid's defence, while he fed the fullbacks as well.

Alex Sandro - 6/10

Naturally a full-back, the Brazilian was given the license to surge up the pitch and deliver crosses for the likes of Higuain to capitalise upon. Though the intent and desire were there, the quality of ball delivery and movement into the box didn't match what Marcelo was able to produce for the opposition. He lost possession in key areas, losing opportunities in the process.

Paulo Dybala - 6/10

Dybala tried his hardest to get Juventus back in the tie - he got into pockets of space only to be thwarted by last-ditch tackles by Ramos and Varane.

He took up set-piece duty in the absence of Pjanic and he took desperate measures by throwing himself to the ground under challenges to ultimately receive a yellow card for diving. His second booking - effectively a red card for a high challenge on Carvajal - ended his and effectively Juventus' hopes of mustering a fightback.

Gonzalo Higuain - 7/10

Higuain was a busy player, picking up the loose ball to get Juventus to go forward and holding up play in the vicinity of the box. He had two strikes at goal, both saved brilliantly by Navas. He created an excellent chance early in the game, only for Bentancur to scuff his shot for Ramos to easily clear the danger.

Substitutes:

Mario Mandzukic - 5/10

Mandzukic was brought on as a second striker after Juventus went down to 10 men and had to sacrifice a winger. He was hardly able to make an impact as Real Madrid professionally saw the game out.

Blaise Matuidi - 5/10

Matuidi replaced Khedira with 20 minutes left but was unable to push a visibly deflated Juventus side.

Juan Cuadrado - 5/10

Cuadrado had a chance with the last kick of the game, which went narrowly wide. Apart from that, he was shut down by Marcelo on the flank with ease.

Real Madrid

It pretty much sums up Cristiano Ronaldo
It pretty much sums up Cristiano Ronaldo

Keylor Navas - 7.5/10

The Costa Rican made two brilliant saves from Higuain and hardly put a foot wrong in goal.

Dani Carvajal - 7/10

Carvajal was impressive going forward, getting beyond Isco at times to be considered as a passing option. He did well to thwart the likes of Asamoah and Alex Sandro when on defensive duty.

Sergio Ramos - 7/10

Ramos was his usual self, giving nothing away and leading his defence against a hungry Juventus attack. His challenges were mostly well-timed but for one on Dybala close to the edge of the penalty area, earning him a yellow card and a suspension for the second leg.

Raphael Varane - 7/10

The French defender had an excellent game, putting in tackles at the right moments to frustrate Dybala and Higuain in the box. He had a free header from a Real Madrid corner, but couldn't direct his header on target.

Marcelo - 7.5/10

Juventus v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One
Marcelo's goal sealed virtual progress for Zinedine Zidane's side

Marcelo continues to show why he is amongst the top fullbacks in modern football, showing the desire to go forward and track back if possession was lost. He had a hand in the first goal, feeding Isco on the run before the latter squared to Ronaldo.

The Brazilian turned into a scorer later on, playing neat one-twos before Ronaldo's pass sent him clear and allowed him to poke the ball into the net after chipping Buffon. It was a praiseworthy performance from the left-back.

Casemiro - 7/10

The Brazilian was unspectacular when doing his business, running after Juventus bodies and trying to close them down in order to win back possession. He is a well-established defensive midfielder in Real Madrid's set-up.

Toni Kroos - 6.5/10

The German didn't see much of the ball but never wasted possession whenever he had it. He passed well in midfield and got the wide men up the flanks with releasing balls. He had a fierce attempt at goal, whacking the top of the crossbar with Buffon unmoved.

Luka Modric - 7/10

The Croatian dominated the right side of midfield, stringing passes with Isco and getting Carvajal to go up the pitch when free-role Isco was in a different position.

Isco - 7.5/10

One could argue that the free role played by Isco at Turin may well have been the X-factor in the game. He helped overload the midfield and made it difficult for Juventus to mark or track him on his runs, especially when the focus was on the attack after conceding an away goal so early on.

Isco was himself influential in the first goal, drifting unmarked into the box and latching on to Marcelo's pass before playing a square ball to Ronaldo, who made no mistake.

Karim Benzema - 5.5/10

Benzema was unable to have any impact on the game, failing to get a shot at goal. He was well marshalled by Juventus' centre-halves.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 9/10

Juventus v Real Madrid - UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One

Ronaldo may not have the pace to do stepovers and drive past multiple defenders anymore, but any doubts of his goal-scoring capability can be laughed off after the performance. Since shifting to a more direct striker's role, his major focus is to be at the right place to meet a pass and use the striker's instinct to take advantage of a loose ball.

Tuesday night was all about that for the Portuguese, first converting Isco's pass first time to give the visitors a crucial away goal, before stunning the Juventus Stadium with a barely believable overhead kick to double his and his side's tally on the night and attract applause from both sets of fans.

He turned provider for Marcelo for the third goal before going agonizingly close to grabbing a Hat-trick but for under-par finishes. He netted in his 10th consecutive Champions League game to break Ruud van Nistelrooy's record on a memorable night for the defending champions.

Substitutes:

Lucas Vazquez - 7/10

Vazquez provided the perfectly weighted pass for Ronaldo to execute the overhead kick and got into promising positions on a handful of occasions to give Real Madrid the clear upper hand.

Mateo Kovacic - 6.5/10

Kovacic replaced compatriot Modric in midfield and strung together a set of passes before going close himself with a strike synonymous to Kroos' earlier in the game, hitting the top of the crossbar.

Marco Asensio - 6/10

Asensio replaced an impressive Isco with minutes remaining and contributed to seeing the game out.

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