Real Madrid: Full Report Card for Every Position for October
Real Madrid have enjoyed an excellent October. A run of five consecutive victories in all competitions suggests things are really starting to click for Carlo Ancelotti and his side. They ended their league schedule for the month with a 3-1 win over Barcelona in Saturday's Clasico.
It has been an impressive month for Los Merengues at both ends of the pitch; they have scored 18 goals—including five-goal hauls against both Athletic Bilbao and Levante—and conceded just two. Ancelotti is clearly beginning to find the balance he craves.
Over the following slides, we grade each Real Madrid player on their performances during the month of October.
Goalkeepers
1 of 9
Iker Casillas
Grade: B
Iker Casillas has started all five of Real Madrid’s matches this month, keeping three clean sheets and performing to a standard that would suggest his starting place is now secure.
He was not directly at fault for the goals conceded against Ludogorets and Barcelona and has made a number of good interventions, including a point-blank save to prevent Lionel Messi from doubling Barcelona’s early lead in the Clasico.
Casillas did concede a cheap goal in Spain’s 2-1 defeat to Slovakia in European Championship qualifying during the month, but at club level, it was a safe and steady October for the experienced goalkeeper.
Keylor Navas
Grade: N/A
Navas has not received any playing time during October and, therefore, been unable to stake a claim for Casillas’ place between the sticks.
He will hope to get a chance to impress in the Copa del Rey, which begins for Madrid with a trip to Segunda B side Cornella on Wednesday.
Right-Backs
2 of 9
Daniel Carvajal
Grade: A-
Daniel Carvajal has started three of Madrid’s five matches thus far in October. He continues to prove himself a highly capable full-back with strong, committed and energetic performances.
The Castilla graduate performed solidly in the wins over Athletic Bilbao and Levante and was one of the best players on the pitch in the Clasico victory over Barcelona.
He gave Neymar a little too much space in the build-up to Barcelona's goal but did not repeat his mistake, marking the Brazilian tightly and effectively thereafter. He was consistently bright and alert to danger and always open to opportunities to drive forward when possession was won.
Alvaro Arbeloa
Grade: C
Alvaro Arbeloa was drafted into the side for both of Madrid’s Champions League matches this month, starting in the wins away to Ludogorets and Liverpool.
He was guilty of losing track of Marcelinho, allowing the midfielder to head in a flicked-on corner and give Ludogorets an early lead in the former match, but he performed decently enough against his former club at Anfield.
Left-Backs
3 of 9
Marcelo
Grade: A
Marcelo is, at times, justifiably criticised for his defensive positioning, but the Brazilian full-back has had a very solid month at both ends of the pitch. He has started all five of Real Madrid’s matches as part of a defence that has conceded just twice so far this month.
Madrid looked a little vulnerable down the flanks during the victory away to Ludogorets at the start of the month, but they tightened up thereafter, with Marcelo performing his defensive duties well in subsequent matches. Apart from allowing Levante’s Victor Camarasa the space to get in a volley that was cleared off the line, he has otherwise been very secure.
Marcelo’s primary strength has always been his attacking play. He assisted Karim Benzema’s winner against Ludogorets with a lovely cross from the left and won the penalty from which Cristiano Ronaldo equalised against Barcelona.
He created three chances against both Ludogorets and Barcelona and two against Liverpool, per WhoScored.com.
Fabio Coentrao
Grade: N/A
Fabio Coentrao has not played a single minute in October due to a knee injury he picked up on international duty. Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that the Portuguese is now back in training, per Nicholas Rigg of AS.
Centre-Backs
4 of 9
Sergio Ramos
Grade: C
Sergio Ramos endured a bit of a nightmare in the narrow win away to Ludogorets at the start of the month. He gave the ball away in dangerous areas far too often and was also easily turned on three or four occasions after committing himself too readily to challenges. He was booked during the second half after being outwitted by Wanderson on the halfway line.
He played the first 45 minutes of the 5-0 win over Athletic before being substituted due to a calf injury that then saw him miss the victories over Levante and Liverpool, as well as Spain's European Championship qualifiers.
Ramos returned for the Clasico and gave a solid performance alongside Pepe. He was, however, guilty of losing track of Lionel Messi for a chance that was superbly saved by Iker Casillas during the first half.
Pepe
Grade: B+
Pepe was rested for the win at Ludogorets and started all four of Real Madrid’s subsequent fixtures. He has performed solidly throughout the month, despite being paired with three different partners.
The Portugal international was, alongside Carvajal, slightly culpable for allowing Neymar to easily drift inside him and finish for Barcelona’s goal in the Clasico. He made one rushed clearance straight out of play and was a little hesitant in a couple of challenges during the first half.
He enjoyed himself much more after the break, rising to head home Toni Kroos’ corner to put Madrid ahead in the 50th minute and defending well thereafter as part of a back line that restricted Barcelona to no more than pot shots.
Raphael Varane
Grade: B+
Raphael Varane has made two starts so far this month. He did a decent job alongside a surprisingly shaky Ramos in the win over Ludogorets and starred when paired with Pepe in the comfortable 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
Liverpool’s final-third movement did cause Madrid and Varane a couple of problems early on, but his speed, strength and anticipation skills quickly shone through in what was a highly impressive performance.
Indeed, he was slightly unfortunate to find himself benched for the Clasico in favour of the more experienced pairing of Pepe and Ramos.
Nacho Fernandez
Grade: C+
Nacho Fernandez was handed a rare start in the match away to Levante and generally acquitted himself well.
He had one uncomfortable moment when he was caught in possession by Ruben Garcia during the first half before appearing to obstruct his opponent as he attempted to atone for his error. But he was otherwise solid and led the team in successful clearances, per WhoScored.com.
Nacho appears content to simply be a part of the Madrid squad. He is committed and reliable whenever called upon, and Ancelotti will be glad to have such a player at his disposal.
Central Midfielders
5 of 9
Toni Kroos
Grade: A
Toni Kroos now looks to have bedded in at Real Madrid and is starting to produce the sort of performances that his previous displays for Bayern Munich and the Germany national team suggested he was capable of.
He and Luka Modric are beginning to form a superb partnership in the Madrid engine room. Both players are supremely confident in possession and have the ability to work the ball neatly and efficiently through the centre of the pitch.
Kroos is also providing regular assists. He produced a superbly weighted pass over the defence for James Rodriguez in the victory over Levante, while his deliveries into the area were converted by Karim Benzema and Pepe for goals against Liverpool and Barcelona respectively.
Luka Modric
Grade: A
Like Kroos, Luka Modric has been very impressive throughout October. He works hard defensively and can always be relied upon in possession.
He and Kroos have shared the responsibility of being the team’s tempo-setter. Modric made more passes than any other Madrid player in the wins over Athletic Bilbao and Liverpool and completed each and every one of his 42 passes in the Clasico victory over Barcelona, per WhoScored.com.
His corner against Athletic Bilbao was headed home by Benzema for his only assist of the month. Modric should also have added a goal to his monthly output in the win Levante but inexplicably fired over from close range after his initial effort on goal had been saved.
Asier Illarramendi
Grade: C
Asier Illarramendi seems to have become Carlo Ancelotti’s go-to guy when the coach is seeking to shore up his midfield and see out a match. He made four such cameos in October, performing capably on each occasion.
Illarramendi did not, however, do particularly well against Ludogorets in his only start of the month so far. He was generally safe and secure in his passing, but he did give the ball away in dangerous areas at least a couple of times. He also provided little resistance when Ludogorets attacked with pace through the centre of the pitch.
While Isco has taken full advantage whenever he has been given an opportunity to impress, Illarramendi is yet to show that he is worthy of a regular starting place.
Sami Khedira
Grade: N/A
Sami Khedira returned to training in the middle of month after being absent since August with a thigh injury. He appeared briefly from the bench against both Liverpool and Barcelona but had little time to make any real impression.
Alvaro Medran
Grade: N/A
Castilla graduate Alvaro Medran came off the bench to make his Madrid debut against Levante. He was neat and tidy in his limited time on the pitch, but it is difficult to draw any meaningful conclusions from his cameo.
Attacking Midfielders
6 of 9
James Rodriguez
Grade: A
The doubters have quickly subsided. Following a run of good performances, in which both his attacking invention and defensive application have impressed, James Rodriguez now looks a bona fide Real Madrid player.
The Colombian was benched for the Champions League victory over Ludogorets at the beginning of the month, but he returned to the team thereafter, starting all four of the subsequent fixtures.
Three assists and one goal represents a healthy return. His assist for Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener against Liverpool was particularly noteworthy for both its ingenuity and execution.
He is also knuckling down to his defensive duties. Per Marca, only Toni Kroos covered more ground than Rodriguez during the Clasico victory over Barcelona. He has currently made the fourth-highest number of average tackles per match in the Madrid squad this season, as per WhoScored.com.
Isco
Grade: A
Isco has been waiting for a chance to show what he is capable of. That chance came in October, with the talented midfielder starting four of Madrid’s five matches.
The Benalmadena native grabbed his opportunity with both hands, putting in a string of good performances and notching a goal and an assist in the thrashing of Levante.
His talent has never been in question—he was, after all, instrumental in Malaga’s run to the Champions League quarter-finals two years ago—but over the last month, Isco has also shown a strong willingness to work hard on the defensive side of his game.
His application was rewarded in the Clasico win over Barcelona when he chased down and won a loose ball on the halfway line in the build-up to Madrid’s third goal.
His overall contribution was such that he was given a standing ovation by the Bernabeu crowd when he made way for Asier Illarramendi in the 84th minute. He even got a kiss on the neck from his coach.
Isco will be hopeful of retaining his place in the side through November.
Wide Forwards
7 of 9
Cristiano Ronaldo
Grade: A
It would be fair to say that Cristiano Ronaldo has enjoyed a good October. Eight goals in five starts have kept him on track to score at a rate of over a goal per match for the fifth consecutive season, while his month ended on a positive note when he won three individual prizes at the LFP awards ceremony on Monday.
Per AS, Ronaldo was presented with the awards for best goal (for his backheel finish against Valencia), best forward and best overall player.
This Madrid team is set up perfectly to get the best out of Ronaldo, and on current form, it is difficult to imagine his goals drying up any time soon.
Gareth Bale
Grade: C
Gareth Bale performed poorly in Madrid’s narrow victory away to Ludogorets at the start of the month before providing two good assists for Ronaldo in the comprehensive win over Athletic Bilbao that followed.
He was rested for the win over Levante and then missed the victories over Liverpool and Barcelona through injury. Per the Guardian, a hip problem picked up on international duty kept him out of action.
Bale’s absence coincided with three of Madrid’s best performances of the season to date. The form of both Isco and James Rodriguez may have had him wondering whether he will be able to get back into the team once fit.
However, Carlo Ancelotti was very clear on Bale's position in his post-Clasico press conference: “I’ve said it a number of times. He is a hugely important player, and when he is fit he will play."
Yet, while Bale’s starting place seems assured, Ancelotti is still not completely happy with his contributions. Per Enrique Ortego of Marca, Ancelotti will expect Bale to put more effort into his defensive work when he returns to the side.
Jese Rodriguez
Grade: N/A
Jese Rodriguez continues his recovery from injury. Per Carlos Forjanes of AS (in Spanish), he is working hard to return to action sometime in November.
Strikers
8 of 9
Karim Benzema
Grade: A
Carlo Ancelotti has never doubted Karim Benzema’s importance to Real Madrid, but the Frenchman has given those who did reason to question their assessment with six goals in his last four appearances.
Benzema missed the 5-0 win over Levante through injury but scored once against Ludogorets, twice against Athletic and Liverpool and once more in the Clasico win over Barcelona.
Per Goal.com, Ancelotti described Benzema as being “on fire” in the wake of the Clasico.
Javier Hernandez
Grade: B-
Javier Hernandez missed a number of good chances in the win over Ludogorets at the start of the month. After sitting out the victory over Athletic, he started and scored in the 5-0 win over Levante.
His goal was a well-taken header from an excellent cross from James Rodriguez. Hernandez had earlier been fouled inside the area for the penalty that Cristiano Ronaldo converted for Madrid’s opener.
He also provided the assist for the fifth goal, scored by Isco.
The Mexico international was an unused substitute in the victories over Liverpool and Barcelona.
Despite his relative lack of playing time, Anthony Chapman of the Express suggests that Madrid are keen to make the deal permanent, albeit at around £5 million less than the fee that was initially agreed with Manchester United.
The Manager
9 of 9
Carlo Ancelotti
Grade: A+
Real Madrid have been firing on all cylinders during October and much of the credit can be placed at the feet of Carlo Ancelotti, who continues to impress with his calm and methodical approach.
Madrid did struggle to find the right balance in the early weeks of the season as they adapted to the departures of Angel Di Maria and Xabi Alonso. After a few experiments, Ancelotti now seems to have hit on a winning formula with a midfield consisting of four highly capable ball-players.
The Italian arrived in Madrid with a reputation as a coach who is willing to mould his tactics around the players at his disposal rather than the other way round. He is certainly proving that to be the case this season.
On Monday Hugo Cerezo of Marca revealed details of the coach’s pre-Clasico team-talk. Ancelotti highlighted the need to work harder than Barcelona; with the ball, he told his charges to “play the way you know how.”
The affection in which he is held by the squad was made clear during the match. A contract extension surely cannot be far off for the amiable and intelligent Italian.
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