Grading the Real Madrid Players on Their Champions League Performances vs. Basel
Real Madrid began their Champions League defence in style on Tuesday, crushing Basel 5-1 at the Bernabeu with a scintillating attacking display.
After Marek Suchy's own goal had gifted the hosts the lead, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema ensured the home side romped their way to the finish line, reminding the club's European rivals of how potent they can be in the process.
The emphatic win was also very timely for Carlo Ancelotti's side, given the tension that had been growing in the Spanish capital amid Los Blancos' slow start to the season.
Across the following slides, we grade the performances put forward against Basel by each of Real Madrid's stars.
14. Raphael Varane
1 of 14
Stat Line: 24 minutes; 1 interception; 2 clearances
WhoScored.com Rating: 5.96
Grade: C-
Still behind Sergio Ramos and Pepe in Carlo Ancelotti's pecking order, Raphael Varane's opportunities appear set to be limited once more in 2014-15.
On Tuesday, the Frenchman was used as a late substitute for Ramos after the result had already been secured, as the manager looked to preserve his first-choice centre-back for Saturday's clash with Deportivo La Coruna.
However, Varane's first action in his brief appearance was to back-head the ball into the path of Derlis Gonzalez, who forced a fine save from Iker Casillas.
13. Javier Hernandez
2 of 14
Stat Line: 8 minutes; 3 touches
WhoScored.com Rating: 6.04
Grade: C
It will be difficult for Javier Hernandez to make any sort of impression at the Bernabeu if he's used as a junk-time substitute like he was against Basel on Tuesday.
And while it's pointless to judge the Mexican on eight minutes of football, the former Manchester United striker will prove to be a difference-maker at some point this season, given his predatory instincts in the penalty area.
All he has to do is wait his turn.
12. Asier Illarramendi
3 of 14
Stat Line: 16 minutes; 14 touches; 2 long balls
WhoScored.com Rating: 6.10
Grade: C
Asier Illarramendi is yet to convince Carlo Ancelotti of his capacity to control Real Madrid's midfield, but the team's recent issues without the ball may mean the former Real Sociedad star will get his chance.
The manager's only true holding option, the Spaniard replaced Luka Modric in the 74th minute on Tuesday as Ancelotti pushed Toni Kroos further ahead to place Illarramendi at the base of the midfield.
In limited playing time, the 24-year-old couldn't really make a meaningful contribution, but that may change in the coming weeks.
11. Sergio Ramos
4 of 14
Stat Line: 66 minutes; 3 interceptions; 1 clearance; 1 foul conceded
WhoScored.com Rating: 6.95
Grade: C+
When Real Madrid fell apart against Real Sociedad, Sergio Ramos looked like a soldier fighting a battle all on his own, diving in for tackles, soaring for headers and clearing everything that came his way as those around him wilted rather alarmingly.
But on Tuesday, the Spaniard couldn't reach that level again and was one of the main culprits in Derlis Gonzalez's goal, breaking away from his defensive line to push into midfield as Basel hit the hosts on the break.
Substituted for Raphael Varane in the second half, Ramos will look to return to his typical excellence against Deportivo on Saturday.
10. Nacho
5 of 14
Stat Line: 90 minutes; 1 shot; 1 key pass; 2 interceptions; 1 clearance
WhoScored.com Rating: 6.73
Grade: B-
In the opening 15 minutes of Tuesday night's game, Nacho was involved heavily in Real Madrid's build-up play, surging down the right wing to deliver an array of crosses into the Basel penalty area.
While his delivery was far from perfect, the defender's presence out wide was important in stretching the visitors' defence, quickly helping Real Madrid to capture the ascendancy. It was also one of Nacho's crosses that Marek Suchy deflected into his own net that opened the scoring.
Naturally, the 24-year-old drifted out of the game in his first competitive appearance of the season, but he can certainly be pleased with his performance.
9. Toni Kroos
6 of 14
Stat Line: 90 minutes; 98 touches; 3 key passes; 2 clearances
WhoScored.com Rating: 7.29
Grade: B-
Real Madrid's clash with Basel was the most clear indication yet that Carlo Ancelotti wants to mould Toni Kroos into his new Xabi Alonso.
Positioned as the deepest member of the home side's midfield trio, Kroos regularly split his centre-backs, operating from a deeper position to what he's normally accustomed to as Ancelotti attempts to build a sense of balance in his lineup.
On the ball, the German was as effective as ever, starting a number of Real's sweeping moves forward with his crisp passing.
But Kroos still looks uncomfortable in that role without the ball, often caught out of position when Basel attacked and unable to slow the visitors' forays through midfield.
8. Marcelo
7 of 14
Stat Line: 90 minutes; 4 tackles; 2 interceptions; 3 key passes
WhoScored.com Rating: 7.71
Grade: B
The endless rotation at left-back continued against Basel on Tuesday, with Carlo Ancelotti preferring the more attack-minded Marcelo over Fabio Coentrao for the team's Champions League opener.
In typical fashion, the Brazilian burst forward regularly, providing width down the left as Los Blancos poured forward, proving to be a real handful for Fabian Schar and Taulant Xhaka on the right side of Basel's defence.
Indeed, Marcelo's threat out wide helped to stretch the visitors' three centre-backs, opening the spaces for Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale to expose.
As always, though, it was hard not to feel that Marcelo was too high up too regularly—a perception that was reinforced as he scurried back to try to prevent Derlis Gonzalez's goal.
7. Pepe
8 of 14
Stat Line: 90 minutes; 3 interceptions; 4 clearances; 1 shot blocked
WhoScored.com Rating: 7.36
Grade: B+
Easily the best of Real Madrid's defenders on the night, Pepe put together another performance likely to keep Raphael Varane out of Carlo Ancelotti's starting XI for a little while longer.
While his temperament is often questioned, the Portuguese was more diligent than Sergio Ramos against Basel, maintaining his connection with the full-backs and cutting off a number of attacks from the visitors.
And while Pepe was nearest to Derlis Gonzalez when he struck Basel's only goal, the 31-year-old had been forced to scramble across to cover his partner's absence after Ramos had impulsively pushed up into the midfield.
6. Karim Benzema
9 of 14
Stat Line: 82 minutes; 24 touches; 4 shots; 1 goal
WhoScored.com Rating: 8.51
Grade: B+
Prior to his stunning goal to seal Real Madrid's hammering of Basel, Karim Benzema had put together a characteristically frustrating performance, linking up well with those around him only to waste a number of legitimate chances.
One of those came in the move resulting in James Rodriguez's goal; the Frenchman tried to glide the ball past Tomas Vaclik instead of thumping it high into the net. The Colombian, of course, seized on the loose ball after the goalkeeper's save, but Benzema really should have buried it.
However, one can't be too critical when he slammed in a left-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area after some sublime interplay with Cristiano Ronaldo.
5. Iker Casillas
10 of 14
Stat Line: 90 minutes; 3 saves; 1 clearance
WhoScored.com Rating: 7.06
Grade: B+
It was an intriguing mood that surrounded Iker Casillas at the Bernabeu on Tuesday, with the fans inside the stadium split between cheering and whistling at the veteran goalkeeper.
But unlike he had against Atletico Madrid, the Spaniard possessed a strong presence against Basel, completing a number of saves while also attacking crosses and corner kicks with significantly more conviction.
Also not at fault in the visitors' only goal—his teammates ahead of him were nowhere to be seen—Casillas' reflex stop to deny Derlis Gonzalez ensured the hosts didn't concede a second.
4. Luka Modric
11 of 14
Stat Line: 74 minutes; 46 touches; 2 shots; 3 key passes; 1 assist
WhoScored.com Rating: 7.7
Grade: B+
Luka Modric's pass to Gareth Bale to set up Real Madrid's second goal on Tuesday night had to be seen to be believed.
Receiving the ball ahead of the half-way line, the Croatian turned and chipped an inch-perfect pass from the outside of his right boot to release his old Tottenham teammate behind the Basel defence. Threading another delightful ball to Bale just minutes later, Modric also played a leading role in Real's third goal.
But the midfielder also made a number of blatant errors, needlessly completing a bicycle kick that allowed Marco Streller to attack before carelessly losing possession after half-time, allowing Basel a genuine scoring opportunity in a three-on-two situation.
3. James Rodriguez
12 of 14
Stat Line: 90 minutes; 92 touches; 4 tackles; 1 shot; 2 key passes; 1 goal
WhoScored.com Rating: 8.37
Grade: A
While James Rodriguez enjoyed his best game in a Real Madrid shirt from an attacking standpoint, it was the Colombian's work without the ball that was even more impressive.
Tracking back diligently along the left flank, the 23-year-old continually harassed Basel's Taulant Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny, completing numerous tackles and prising the ball away from his opponents extremely effectively.
That he added a goal, produced a sumptuous back-heel that resulted in the opener and generally linked up well with his teammates in midfield only enhanced his overall performance.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
13 of 14
Stat Line: 90 minutes; 59 touches; 8 shots; 2 key passes; 1 assist; 1 goal
WhoScored.com Rating: 8.07
Grade: A
Cristiano Ronaldo was simply devastating in his team's triumphant Champions League campaign last term and picked up where he'd left off against Basel on Tuesday.
After a number of close shaves with the goal in the opening half, the Portuguese stormed into the box to hammer home Gareth Bale's lethal cross to make it 3-0, before delightfully dancing through Basel's midfield to set up Karim Benzema late on for Real Madrid's fifth.
Now with 68 career goals in the continental competition, Ronaldo is just three shy of Raul's record of 71.
1. Gareth Bale
14 of 14
Stat Line: 90 minutes; 55 touches; 2 shots; 2 key passes; 2 dribbles; 1 assist; 1 goal
WhoScored.com Rating: 8.62
Grade: A
After consecutive losses to Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid, questions had been raised about Gareth Bale's capacity to sustain his influence for 90 minutes, given the way he'd drifted out of Real's recent games.
On Tuesday, the Welshman squashed such concerns, completing his finest performance of the season with a stunning goal and a pinpoint assist.
After receiving a sumptuous pass from Luka Modric in the first half, Bale lobbed Basel goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik before sprinting ahead to tap in the goal, helping to make it 3-0 when he and Modric linked up again to set up Cristiano Ronaldo.
All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com and Squawka.
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