Ranking and Grading Real Madrid Players on Champions League Performances so Far
Five games, five wins. Real Madrid's bid to retain the Champions League has not been properly questioned yet.
Wednesday night's 1-0 win in Switzerland was possibly their toughest challenge to date in this season's competition, but given they had already qualified, it didn't feel like a nervy occasion.
The comeback win against Ludogorets was also trickier than many expected.
Liverpool, though, didn't even put up a challenge. The English club were swatted aside at Anfield and fielded a second-choice side at the Bernabeu.
Madrid will welcome the Bulgarian outfit Ludogorets to the Spanish capital for the final group game; a win would give them the perfect six.
Over the following slides, we take a look at how Los Blancos' players have performed so far in Europe this season.
Goalkeepers
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Iker Casillas: B
Carlo Ancelotti placed his faith in Iker Casillas for Real Madrid's first four Champions League games.
And against Liverpool at Anfield, the Spain international produced the type of performance that suggested his confidence is returning after a tough two years.
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.
Things hadn't been as straight forward against Ludogorets, though, and confusion was allowed to take over in the Real Madrid box for the Bulgarians to open the scoring.
With his manager's continued confidence, though, there's no reason his form won't continue to improve.
Keylor Navas: B
A Champions League debut and a clean sheet—Keylor Navas will have been very happy with how he spent his Wednesday night this week.
He even made a couple of saves as Madrid saw off Swiss side Basel 1-0.
With Casillas established as first choice, the Costa Rican goalkeeper has to take advantage of any opportunity Ancelotti throws his way.
At 27, he's considerably younger than Casillas, and will have to hope his chance as a regular will one day arrive.
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 at the Bernabeu when Nacho Fernandez played.
Having spent several years playing for Liverpool, the matches against the English club were special occasions for the 31-year-old.
And, by recent standards, he crowned both matches with impressive performances.
There was a hint of a foul on Raheem Sterling early on at Anfield, but that aside, he was solid over the two legs.
Arbeloa also played the whole game against Ludogorets, performing well, and was again chosen for Wednesday's win over Basel.
Marcelo: B
Carlo Ancelotti has used Marcelo in all of Real Madrid's Champions League matches this season, although the Brazilian full-back was reduced to a brief substitute appearance on Wednesday evening.
He played a vital role in the win against Ludogorets earlier this season, 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 Bernabeu wins over Liverpool and Basel, but his appearance in Switzerland was far too brief to judge.
Nacho Fernandez: C
Versatile defender Nacho Fernandez's one start in the Champions League came as a right-back in the first match 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 has since come on as a substitute in the two wins against Liverpool and against Basel on Wednesday.
Fabio Coentrao: B
Portuguese full-back Fabio Coentrao made his first Real Madrid start since September in the win over Basel on Wednesday night.
And, arguably, he was one of Madrid's better players.
Getting down the left, he was an attacking threat, but he didn't neglect his defensive duties and will have been very satisfied with his return to the side.
Centre-Backs
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Sergio Ramos: C
Sergio Ramos missed the match against Liverpool at Anfield 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.
At the Bernabeu against Liverpool he improved, and in Switzerland he was fine, although his third yellow card of the competition will see him miss the final match against Ludogorets through suspension.
Pepe: B
Paired with Raphael Varane against Liverpool, Pepe put in his best performance in the Champions League this season—but he's not played in the competition since.
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 in his first appearance in the season's competition, 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 four Champions League matches—he came off the bench in the first game.
In Bulgaria against Ludogorets, partnered with 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.
Then, in the games against Liverpool at the Bernabeu and Basel in Switzerland, paired with Ramos, he has looked completely at home.
He’s certainly breathing down Ramos and Pepe’s necks.
Midfielders
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Luka Modric: A
Luka Modric had started every match in Europe this season until injury kept him out of Wednesday's win over Basel.
The Croatian has become completely at home in a side lined with superstar attacking players, none of whom would be able to function quite as effectively without him linking things together.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has started every Champions League game during the current campaign, although Modric would surely share that honour but for his injury.
Toni Kroos: A
Aided by Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, Toni Kroos was at the heart of two of Real Madrid's goals at Anfield in what was probably his best performance in this season's Champions League.
His cross set up Karim Benzema's opener and his corner later led to Madrid's third goal.
Until then, his role in Europe 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 has grown since, though, perhaps due to feeling more at home in his new surroundings.
Asier Illarramendi: C
Featuring in four of Real Madrid's Champions League matches so far, Asier Illarramendi is attempting to prove he can be considered an able deputy to the likes of Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
Three of his appearances have come 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, if not excelling.
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.
Sami Khedira: n/a
Restricted to a 15 minute appearance off the bench against Liverpool.
Attacking Midfielders
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James Rodriguez: A
James Rodriguez's debut in the Champions League for Real Madrid produced a stunning goal.
In what turned into a rout against Basel at the Bernabeu, Madrid won 5-1, the Colombian blasted home the fourth in a first half which produced five goals—four for Madrid and one for their visitors.
Already familiar with Europe's top table from his time with Porto, he clearly wasn't fazed by the stage.
He then appeared as a late substitute against Ludogorets before returning to the lineup for the following three matches.
His perfect pass at Anfield that set up Cristiano Ronaldo for the night's first goal was a particular highlight from those three appearances.
Isco: A
Isco missed the opening game against Basel, but has been one of Madrid's top performers in the ensuing four matches.
The 22-year-old was central to most of the good things Los Blancos did in Bulgaria against Ludogorets, while at Anfield he demonstrated that he can work hard and help the team defensively.
For his size, the former Malaga midfielder uses his body well to keep the ball and he regularly put Liverpool on the back foot over the two meetings between the sides with an exhibition in dribbling, passing and decision making.
And again, he impressed against Basel on Wednesday.
This time he was playing in a deeper role, almost filling the space vacated by Modric, but he was just as key to the performance of Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Forwards
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Gareth Bale: B
Gareth Bale missed out on a return to England through injury, but did come on as a substitute in the win over Liverpool at the Bernabeu.
Prior to that, like many Real Madrid players, he came up with very little against Ludogorets.
However, in the opening fixture in this season's Champions League against Basel, the Welshman was one of Los Blancos' better performers.
He scored one and set up another, scaring the Swiss defenders with his pace and power.
In Switzerland on Wednesday night, he was a regular outlet for Madrid, smashing the bar on the break in the second half, but he was unable to contribute too heavily.
Cristiano Ronaldo: A
Four goals in five Champions League starts will not satisfy Cristiano Ronaldo.
In the group stages of this competition last season he scored 10 times, while his 20 goals in 11 league appearances this season is startlingly good.
That doesn't mean he's not been good, though.
He scored the only goal of the game against Basel on Wednesday, drawing level with Raul on 71 goals in the competition, three behind Barcelona's Lionel Messi.
Previously, he'd scored a fantastic goal against Liverpool at Anfield, a penalty against Ludogorets in Bulgaria and one against Basel in the opening fixture at the Bernabeu.
Strikers
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Karim Benzema: A
Real Madrid's No. 9 has possibly been their best player in their five Champions League matches this season.
Karim Benzema's brace against Liverpool took his to total to four goals in Europe this season, and he made that five in the home match against the English club.
He's notched 41 times in the continent's top club competition—29 for Madrid and 12 for French side Lyon.
Elsewhere, against Ludogorets, he was left on the bench, but appeared to score the winner in the second half.
And even though he didn't score against Basel on Wednesday night, it was his hard work which resulted in a Cristiano Ronaldo tap in for the game's only goal.
Javier Hernandez: C
Javier Hernandez has been restricted to 79 minutes of action in the Champions League and has been unable to make his mark.
In his one official start in the competition, against Ludogorets in Bulgaria, he was replaced by Karim Benzema after 67 minutes; the French forward went on to score the winner.
His two substitute appearances number just 12 minutes.
He came on late in the home game against Basel, by which point Madrid were already out of sight and very little could have been expected from the Mexican.
Against Liverpool at the Bernabeu, he was thrown in for the final 180 seconds.
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