Ranking and Grading Real Madrid Players on Champions League Performances so Far
Three games into the Champions League and Real Madrid have already opened up a six point lead at the top of their group.
Liverpool, Basel and Ludogorets have all beaten each other, meaning Carlo Ancelotti's side could secure top spot, depending on the result in the other game, with another win against Brendan Rodgers' Reds at the Bernabeu in a couple of weeks.
All this, as well, without really needing to get out of top gear.
Success at home to Basel was a canter and Wednesday's win at Anfield was sealed in a first half blitz.
Ludogorets, surprisingly, are the only team who have come close to taking points from Los Blancos.
The following slides look at how each Madrid player has faired in Europe so far this season.
Goalkeeper
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Iker Casillas: B
Carlo Ancelotti has placed his faith in Iker Casillas in all three of Real Madrid's Champions League games to date.
And against Liverpool on Wednesday evening, the Spain international produced his best performance in this season's edition of the competition.
He didn't have a great deal to do, but what he did need to do he did well.
Steven Gerrard tested him from distance early on in one of very few saves Casillas had to make during the 3-0 win.
However, confusion had reigned in his box when Ludogorets took the lead in the previous match and it is evident he is not quite the goalkeeper he once was.
With his manager's continued confidence, though, there's no reason he can't find his best form again as the season grows with age.
A good performance against Barcelona on Saturday would certainly help.
Full-Backs
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Alvaro Arbeloa: B
Alvaro Arbeloa has been Madrid's choice right-back so far in the Champions League, only missing the Basel game when Nacho Fernandez was chosen.
Having spent several years playing for Liverpool, Wednesday night was a special match for the 31-year-old.
And, by recent standards, it was an impressive performance from Arbeloa.
There was a hint of a foul on Raheem Sterling early on as the Liverpool live-wire looked to latch onto a Jordan Henderson pass, but that aside, he will have considered it an acceptable return to his former employers.
Arbeloa also played the whole game against Ludogorets, performing well, although he isn't as much of a threat as Dani Carvajal in the final third.
Marcelo: B
Carlo Ancelotti has used Marcelo in all three of Real Madrid's Champions League matches this season, and the Brazilian has only missed five minutes of the 270 minutes of action.
He played a vital role against Ludogorets, too, setting up Karim Benzema's winner in the second half.
Then, linking up with Cristiano Ronaldo down the left flank at Anfield, he was a regular source of problems for the overworked Liverpool and England right-back Glen Johnson.
Marcelo also played well in the opening day win over Basel.
Nacho Fernandez: C
Versatile defender Nacho Fernandez's one start in the Champions League came as a right-back against Basel.
However, his performance didn't stand out, and he was unable to convince Carlo Ancelotti he deserves more playing time in the Real Madrid first team.
Now 24, it's unlikely he ever will become a Bernabeu regular.
He also came on briefly at Anfield in Wednesday's win over Liverpool for Marcelo, but it is clear Nacho's role at the club is very much on the outside looking in.
Centre-Backs
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Sergio Ramos: C
Sergio Ramos missed the match against Liverpool because of an injury, but his performances in Real Madrid's first two Champions League matches had not been exceptional.
In Bulgaria, he was one of many players who looked lost as Carlo Ancelotti's side conceded an early goal against Ludogorets via a corner.
Against Basel at the Bernabeu, things were slightly more straight forward for Madrid and Ramos before the 28-year-old was replaced by Raphael Varane in the second half.
Pepe: B
Paired with Raphael Varane against Liverpool, Pepe put in his best performance in the Champions League this season.
Mario Balotelli was well marshalled and Raheem Sterling, despite looking lively on the ball, was unable to do any significant damage.
Things were easier against Basel, even if Madrid did concede once in what was a comfortable win.
Raphael Varane: B
Free of injury problems at last, Raphael Varane has been able to start Real Madrid's last two Champions League matches.
They have been two contrasting performances, though.
In Bulgaria against Ludogorets, partnered with Sergio Ramos, the Frenchman looked a little shaky as Madrid struggled to overcome the challenge posed by their opposition—particularly from set plays.
Alongside Pepe in Liverpool, things were completely different.
Aside from a couple of misplaced passes, Varane, and Madrid collectively, were rarely threatened by the Premier League side, largely restricting them to efforts from outside the penalty area.
Carlo Ancelotti may now be confused over what his best pairing is in the middle of defence.
Midfielders
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Luka Modric: A
It's difficult to believe that Luka Modric wasn't an instant hit at Real Madrid considering just how important he is to the side now.
The Croatian is completely at home in a side lined with superstar attacking players, none of whom would be able to function quite as effectively without his role as Mr. Busy in the middle of the pitch.
He is one of only four players to start all the Champions League matches so far and was once again key during Madrid's win against Liverpool.
Toni Kroos: B
Aided by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Toni Kroos was at the heart of two of Real Madrid's goals at Anfield on Wednesday night.
After the Belgium stopper had initially flapped at a ball into the box, Kroos guided an inch perfect cross onto the head of Karim Benzema and the Frenchman looped the ball into the back of the net.
Shortly after, a corner from Madrid's German midfielder again revealed Mignolet's flaws and led to Madrid's third goal.
Until then, his role in the Champions League hadn't been as significant.
Against Basel, he played 90 minutes in a match dominated by Madrid's forward players, while he only featured for 20 minutes against Ludogorets.
His importance will surely grow, though, as the matches become tighter after the group stages.
Asier Illarramendi: B
Featuring in all of Real Madrid's Champions League matches so far, Asier Illarramendi is proving an able deputy to the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
He's twice been used as a substitute, but he did start the match in Bulgaria against Ludogorets.
And despite the tough nature of Madrid's win against the group's unfancied side, Illarramendi did very little wrong.
The former Real Sociedad midfielder showed for the ball and moved it on well, giving it away no more than once or twice—it was exactly what Carlo Ancelotti would have expected from him.
Attacking Midfielders
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James Rodriguez: B
Already familiar with the competition from his time at Porto, James Rodriguez's debut in the Champions League for Real Madrid produced a stunning goal.
In what turned into a rout against Swiss side Basel, the Colombian blasted home the fourth in a first half which produced five goals—four for Madrid and one for their visitors.
It was a reminder that James does have the spectacular in his locker.
At the World Cup with Colombia in Brazil, where he won the Golden Boot, he was regularly on target; several of his goals were unbelievable.
His role at Madrid has been slightly more in the background, but there are signs there is more to come.
He appeared as a late substitute against Ludogorets before returning to the line up for the Liverpool match, where both he and Isco performed admirably in their midfield roles alongside Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
His perfect pass at Anfield set up Cristiano Ronaldo for the night's first goal.
Isco: A
Isco missed the party against Basel, but has been one of Madrid's top performers in the ensuing matches against Ludogorets and Liverpool.
The 22-year-old was central to most of the good things Los Blancos did in Bulgaria, while in England on Wednesday night he once again demonstrated why he should be a regular in Carlo Ancelotti's side.
For his size, the former Malaga midfielder uses his body well to keep the ball and regularly put Liverpool on the back foot with an exhibition in dribbling, passing and decision making.
Forwards
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Gareth Bale: B
Like many Real Madrid players, Gareth Bale came up with very little against Ludogorets.
He then missed the match against Liverpool through injury.
However, in the opening fixture in this season's Champions League against Basel, the Welshman was arguably Los Blancos' most impressive player.
Scoring one and creating another, Bale frightened the life out of the Swiss side's defenders with his pace and power in a match which also saw James Rodriguez, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo score.
Cristiano Ronaldo: A
Given the standards set by Cristiano Ronaldo in the group stages of this competition last season—he scored 10 times, which was a record—and his 15 goals in seven league games this season, is it fair to say he's not quite got going in this season's Champions League?
Of course, that doesn't mean he's not been good.
The Portuguese star would have been disappointed to only score once as Madrid slammed five past Basel and he'd have been even more upset to miss a penalty against Ludogorets.
He did, however, score another penalty against the Bulgarians and his first half performance at Anfield was fantastic.
Ronaldo had never scored against Liverpool at their famous old ground, but he opened the scoring on Wednesday night with an exquisite finish past Simon Mignolet.
He was a menace throughout for the English side, at least until he was withdrawn in the second half to save his legs for Barcelona.
Strikers
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Karim Benzema: A
Real Madrid's No. 9 has been their best player in the first three matches of the Champions League.
Karim Benzema's brace against Liverpool took his to total to four goals in Europe this season, and he's now notched 40 times in the continent's top club competition—28 for Madrid and 12 for French side Lyon.
At Anfield, he played an important role in allowing Los Blancos to take a much needed breather in the second half ahead of Saturday's clash with Barcelona.
And not just because of his goals, either.
His link up play, once again, was superb throughout the match as he pulled Dejan Lovren and Martin Skrtel all over the place.
Against Ludogorets, in Madrid's last match in Europe, he was left on the bench, but came on to score the winner in the second half just when it looked like his side were running out of ideas.
Javier Hernandez: C
Javier Hernandez disappointed in his one official start in the Champions League against Ludogorets in Bulgaria.
The Mexican, unable to help his side out in terms of goals, was replaced by Karim Benzema after 67 minutes and the French forward went on to show him how it is done by scoring the winner.
Perhaps, in keeping with the reputation he earned at Manchester United, Hernandez will be better used as a substitute.
He did come on late in the game against Basel, but by that point Madrid were already out of sight and very little could have been expected from the 26-year-old in the 10 minutes he was afforded.
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