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Cristiano Ronaldo set a new record of scoring in each and every group game, as Real Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 3-2.
Real took the lead early through a Borja Mayoral goal, and were 2-0 ahead just a few minutes later after an exquisite strike from Ronaldo.
But, just minutes before the end of the half, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored with his head to get Dortmund back in the game. Not long after the interval, they’d be level through that man again, as his chip made it 2-2.
The game then looked set to end in a draw, as Madrid were forced into crosses and long-range efforts, until a slightly scuffed volley from Lucas Vazquez spun away from Burki and into the corner.
Here are the player ratings from the match:
Real Madrid
Keylor Navas – 6
Navas made a great stop to deny Aubameyang originally, but he could do nothing about his chip over his head as he made it 2-2. Furthermore, the opening goal was an unstoppable header, meaning there was no blame on the keeper.
Nacho – 8
Nacho was excellent at both right-back and centre-back. He played an important part in the second goal as his dangerous delivery would eventually make it’s way to Ronaldo. Then in the second half, he made a crucial tackle to stop Aubameyang who was racing through on goal.
Raphael Varane – 6
Varane was efficient and solid at the back for Madrid, passing out well from the back and cutting out the danger early. However, he had to come off through injury just before the end of the first half.
Sergio Ramos – 6
Ramos was solid at centre back, but Aubameyang certainly caused the Madrid captain some problems.
Theo Hernandez – 8
Hernandez put in a very good shift at left-back, proving how good he could be in the future. Going forward he was delivering some impressive fast-paced crosses, and dealt with Pulisic with ease defensively.
Mateo Kovacic – 6
Kovacic was solid for the most part, but fizzled out slightly in the second half as the momentum shifted Dortmund’s way and he was eventually subbed for Ceballos after 58 minutes.
Casemiro – 8
Casemiro put in another fine performance in a Madrid shirt. The Brazilian was snuffing out any Dortmund danger, and showed a great range of passing on the ball.
Isco – 8
Isco supplied the assist for Mayoral’s goal, even if it was not quite intentional, and from that moment on he took control of the game. He dictated the play making lots of key passes and weaving in and out of the Dortmund midfield and defence.
Lucas Vazquez – 7
After Varane’s injury, Vazquez was forced to play at right back. Charging forward, he allowed Schmelzer some space on the left-hand side, and it led to Dortmund’s route back into the game at 2-1. However, he redeemed himself scoring Real’s eventual winner, with a volley into the bottom corner.
Borja Mayoral – 8
Mayoral will be very pleased with his performance. He scored Madrid’s opener and showed how gifted he is, making himself lots of other chances and showing great link up too.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 9
Ronaldo set a new record, scoring in every group game this season. He was instrumental in the opening goal and scored a fantastic goal from outside the box, leaving Burki with no chance. Then he continued to wreak havoc all night, and was extremely unlucky not to get a second.
Substitutes:
Marco Asensio – 7
Asesnsio’s lack of awareness to realise Schmelzer was close, allowed him to nip in and set up Dortmund’s first goal of the game and it took until Isco was taken off, for the Spaniard to come into the game. But from that moment on, he was fantastic, putting in some magnificent deliveries.
Dani Ceballos – 7
Ceballos was lively and impressive off the bench, bringing some energy back to the Los Blancos midfield, which seemed to go missing early in the second half.
Marcos Llorente – 6
Llorente was solid in midfield and mainly recycled possession, swapping positions with Asensio, who was having to play a deeper role.
Borussia Dortmund
Roman Burki – 5
Burki looked shaky from the off and remains a weak link in the Dortmund side. Although he made no individual errors for the three goals, it wasn’t an inspiring performance from the Dortmund goalkeeper.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos – 7
Sokratis was solid in defence and kept Mayoral quiet for most of the second half. Although he was part of a defence that conceded three, he performed well at the back.
Neven Subotic – 6
Subotic put his body on the line and cleared the ball with some great headers, but he must take some responsibility for the three goals conceded, being in the centre of the back three.
Marcel Schmelzer – 8
On the half-volley, Schmelzer put in a wonderful delivery to set up Aubameyang’s header. The German, playing at left centre back, showed what Dortmund were missing by not playing him at left-back. However, he did still perform excellently at centre-back, making lots of interceptions and forcing Madrid into long-range efforts.
Marc Bartra – 3
For Mayoral’s goal, Bartra allowed Ronaldo to get past him way too easily, and although he was in an unnatural right wing back position, his defensive instincts should have meant he got tighter. It was a torrid night for the Spaniard, who could not deal with Hernandez, Ronaldo and Asensio running at him.
Nuri Sahin – 5
Facing his former club, it was not a great night for Sahin. He got better in the second half, but the Turkish international was sloppy in possession and gave the ball away on too many occasions.
Mahmoud Dahoud – 6
Dahoud took his time, but got into the game as it wore on. He was not at his absolute best, but as a 21-year-old facing Isco, Kovacic and Casemiro, it was a solid performance.
Raphael Guerreiro – 4
Guerreiro, like Bartra on the opposite side, had a very difficult night. Although he was helped out massively by Schmelzer on his side of the defence, going forward the 23-year-old offered nothing, even against Lucas who was in an unusual right-back position.
Christian Pulisic – 6
Pulisic looked bright in patches, but it was not a great night for the American, who found it difficult to get past Hernandez. Furthermore, his job was made harder by the fact that Dortmund spent the majority of the night on the back foot.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 9
Aubameyang missed a very good opportunity at 2-0 to get his side back in the game, but he redeemed himself with a great header to make it 2-1. He then made it 2-2 with a delicious chip over Navas, after he had just denied him from close range. He was clinical in front of goal and showed that he is a world class striker.
Shinji Kagawa – 7
In the first half, Kagawa was quiet, but early in the second half he found pockets of space in between Madrid’s defence and midfield, and this contributed to Aubameyang’s equaliser, as his flick set him through one on one.
Substitutes:
Julian Weigl – 6
Weigl played better than his team-mate Sahin, even in his short time on the pitch, offering more calmness defensively and helping keep the ball in deeper areas.
Omer Toprak – N/A
Toprak played the final 10 minutes, in which he had no time to make a difference defensively. He wasn’t at fault for the goal, and the game slowed down after Madrid’s third.
Andriy Yarmolenko – N/A
Yarmolenko was introduced in stoppage time, meaning there was no time for him to affect the game.
