UEFA Champions League 2017-18- Real Madrid 3-0 APOEL Nicosia: Player Ratings. 

Real Madrid began their UEFA Champions League title defence with an easy victory over Cypriot Champions APOEL Nicosia in their opening group game of the current instalment. It was Cristiano Ronaldo who opened the scoring in the 12th minute and then converted a dubious penalty in the 51st minute before Sergio Ramos acrobatically scored in the 61st minute to give his side a 3-0 win over their visitors.

While the scoreline suggests that it was a comprehensive victory, it was an underwhelming performance from the Los Blancos and in this segment, we take a look at the player ratings from the game between the 2 sides.

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Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo netted a crucial brace against APOEL Nicosia

Keylor Navas - 6

The Costa Rican shot stopper did not have a lot to do throughout the game. His only considerable save of the game came early in the first half when he had to tip over a vicious shot from Roberto Lago.

Marcelo – 7

The Brazilian was a constant menace to the APOEL defence with his overlapping runs down the left flank and constantly found space and time to operate in. It was the Brazilian’s brilliant cross into the box that Bale nodded down, for Ramos to apply the finishing touches to for Real’s third and final goal of the evening.

Sergio Ramos – 7

While he did score a wonderful goal via an overhead kick, we were surprised to see Sergio Ramos put in such a nervy performance at the rear end of the pitch. There was one particular moment in the game when he was dispossessed inside his own box and had to rely on his partner Nacho to clear up his mess.

Nacho – 7

Nacho looked the better of the 2 Real Madrid centre-backs on the evening and constantly disrupted the opposition’s rhythm with a mix of tackles (4) and interceptions (4). However, the Spaniard was saved the blushes late in the 2nd half when his mistake led to De Camargo being afforded a chance, which the Belgian international failed to convert.

Dani Carvajal – 8

Dani Carvajal had an eventful outing against APOEL Nicosia

Dani Carvajal was an absolute joy to watch. He constantly got in behind the APOEL defence and played some great crosses to trouble the visitors. He created 5 goal scoring opportunities and was often seen stretching the visitor’s defence with his overlapping runs to create space for his teammates to operate in.

While he did not record an assist on the night, his performance serves as a reminder as to why he is amongst the elite right-backs in the footballing world.

Mateo Kovacic – NA

The Croatian seemed to have pulled up his hamstring and was substituted midway through the first half.

Casemiro – 8

Silent yet effective as always, the Brazilian was critical to his side asserting their dominance over the opposition in the centre of the park. Casemiro did not let the visitors settle down in the middle of the park as he frequently broke up their play with tackles (9) and interceptions (2).

While his defensive contributions in the game earned him the deserved praise, it was perhaps his delightful chip to find Cristiano Ronaldo in the box (which the Portuguese failed to convert) that was the highlight of his game.

Luka Modric – 6

While he did no mistake throughout the game, it was a rather underwhelming performance from the Croatian midfielder who has established himself as one of the best in the business.

Yes, he was tidy with his passing and controlled the tempo of the game but his creativity was not on display as he failed to break the APOEL defence and was guilty of giving away possession of the sphere on more than 1 occasion.

Isco - 8

It is truly amazing that Isco continues to grow with every match and he was Real’s most potent attacking threat through large durations of the game. The Spaniard was a thorn in the flesh of APOEL during his time on the pitch as he constantly unsettled them with his skill on the ball, passing ability, vision and movement on and off the ball.

The former Real Madrid outcast has truly turned heads with his performances since last season and was deservedly given a standing ovation when he was substituted in the 72nd minute.

Gareth Bale – 8

Gareth Bale came off in the 82nd minute after a wonderful performance

The Welshman made amends for his poor performance in the game against Levante with a brilliant outing on Wednesday. Bale linked up well with the likes of Isco and Marcelo and provided the required attacking threat on the left flank.

He created 5 goal scoring opportunities, the highest by any player on the evening alongside Carvajal and set up Ronaldo’s opener as well as Ramos’ goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo – 7

With Lionel Messi having broken his jinx against Gianluigi Buffon on Tuesday, all eyes were on Cristiano Ronaldo and the Portuguese superstar did not disappoint.

Ronaldo scored a brace on the night to add to his goal tally in the UEFA Champions League and while one of the 2 goals was courtesy of a dubious penalty and against a weaker opposition compared to Juventus, it was more than enough to help Real begin their title defence in a positive manner.

His relatively average rating from the game is on the account of the superstar missing several good opportunities created, a trait not often seen in his game.

Substitutes

Toni Kroos – 7

The German pass master was forced into the game earlier than most people expected owing to the injury to Kovacic and did well through the 76 minutes he spent on the pitch. He was amongst the creators-in-chief on the evening having created 4 goal scoring opportunities and maintained the tempo of the game alongside Modric in the centre of the park.

Dani Ceballos – NA

Ceballos came on in the 72nd minute for Isco with the game firmly in Real Madrid’s grasp.

Borja Mayoral – NA

Yet another debutant alongside Ceballos, Mayoral was introduced in the 82nd minute for Bale.

APOEL Nicosia

APOEL Nicosia trained hard, but couldn't match up to the mighty Los Blancos

Boy Waterman - 5

While the APOEL shot-stopper did ship 3 goals on the evening, there was very little he could have done to avoid 2 of the goals going in as his defence appeared to have let him down. However, we believe he was at fault for Real’s third and final goal, as he failed to deal appropriately with the cross and was duly punished by an acrobatic Ramos.

Roberto Lago – 6

Roberto Lago toiled away, but to no avail

The former Celta Vigo and Getafe man did start the evening well with a vicious strike early in the first half that forced Navas into making a save.

He was amongst the biggest attacking threat for the visitors as he constantly found space and time to operate on the left flank but his evening quickly turned sour when he was adjudged to have handled the ball to grant Real a penalty in the 2nd half.

Carlao – 6

The Brazilian was at fault for Real’s first goal as he failed to track the movement of Cristiano Ronaldo to allow him an easy tap in past the goal keeper and then failed to deal properly with Marcelo’s cross to hand Real their third goal of the evening.

However, he did effect some good blocks (5) and interceptions to not let the hosts run away with the game and was tidy with the ball at his feet as he did not lose possession of the sphere even once.

Jesus Rueda – 6

It was always going to be a tough evening for Rueda as he, alongside Carlao was handed the responsibility of keeping the enterprising Real attack at bay and the duo did well to keep the hosts at bay for large durations of the game.

He was quick to snuff out any danger that appeared on the horizon on and also made some vital interceptions to frustrate the Real Madrid camp and will need to continue with the same if APOEL are to make headway into a group that features 3 top class teams in Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham Hotspur.

Praxitelis Vouros – 5

With Real Madrid largely dominating proceedings, the Greek full-back was largely restricted to his own half and while he tried hard to not afford the likes of Bale and Marcelo a lot of time and space on the flanks, it did not prove enough as both the Real Madrid goals from open play were created from his flank.

Vinicius - 4

The 31-year-old central midfielder did not make an impact on the game and was outplayed by the technically gifted Real Madrid midfield. The Brazilian failed to create any real goal scoring opportunity for his side and was largely a spectator as the likes of Isco, Modric and Kroos ran the show.

Nuno Morais -4

Morais was yet another APOEL player who failed to impress on the evening as he did not contribute to his side’s attack or defence. His inability to control the tempo of the game when in possession hurt his side’s chances especially with Real looking rusty in the first half.

Roland Sallai – 3

To be honest, we were hoping that the 20-year-old would come alive on the biggest stage against the biggest opposition in the footballing world. Sadly for us, the Hungarian failed to come alive and was a spectator. He was deservedly substituted in the 59th minute for Agustin Farias.

Efstathios Aloneftis -7

Efstathios Aloneftis was among the best performers for APOEL Nicosia

The Cyprus international was by far APOEL’s greatest attacking threat on the night as he constantly pushed and probed the Real Madrid defence with his ability on the left-flank. The winger created a superb opportunity in the 75th minute to present his teammate De Camargo with a goal scoring opportunity that the Belgian international missed.

With his teammates offering him little or no support in the attacking third of the pitch, there was very little that the Cyprus international could have done.

Lorenzo Ebecillio – 6

The former Ajax man lined up as his side’s leading playmaker but was unable to force the game in the favour of his side despite constantly trying to break the rigid Real defence with a mix of through balls and off the ball runs.

It appeared as if he would have a large role to play, especially with him having tested Navas in the 12th minute but, thereafter, he was restricted as his side tried to contain the Real attack and did not receive a lot of support from his teammates.

Igor de Camargo - 5

The Belgian international was guilty of missing a glorious opportunity in the 75th minute when he failed to hit the target and with that, he wasted his side’s only real chance of scoring on the evening.

It was a very underwhelming performance from the former Standard Liege and Borussia Monchengladbach man and while it could also be attributed to him not being provided adequate service by his teammates, he did not make himself available enough to actually present his teammates with an opportunity to feed him.

Substitutes

Agustin Farias – 4

The 29-year-old Argentine was introduced in the 60th minute for Sallai and did not prove to be an upgrade over the Hungarian.

Mickael Pote – NA

Pote was handed his UEFA Champions League debut in the 83rd minute for de Camargo.

Ghayas Zahid – NA

Came on in the 73rd minute but failed to make an impact on the game.