Ranking and Grading Real Madrid Players on UCL Group Stage Performances
It was all far too easy.
Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Ludogorets was their sixth in this season's Champions League: Six games, six wins in Europe and their winning streak in all competitions extended to 19.
They finished with 18 points, which was one more than Basel, Liverpool and Ludogorets put together. They finished with 16 goals; the other three Group B occupants managed 17 between them.
Carlo Ancelotti has used 21 players in the competition so far and six of them have found the net.
Alvaro Arbeloa and Alvaro Medran became the latest two with their strikes against Ludogorets at the Bernabeu, which came after first half goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
And as Madrid look forward to the draw for the knockout stages, B/R takes a look at how their players have performed to date.
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 straightforward against Ludogorets, though, and confusion was allowed to take over in the Real Madrid box for the Bulgarians to open the scoring.
With qualification sealed, though, he handed the gloves over to Keylor Navas for the final two matches...
Keylor Navas: B
Two Champions League appearances, two Champions League clean sheets for Keylor Navas.
He kept one on his debut in the competition and made several saves as Madrid saw off Swiss side Basel 1-0.
And, despite the scoreline, he had work to do against Ludogorets on Tuesday night, as he secured his second shutout—according to WhoScored, he's made 3.5 saves a game in Europe compared to Casillas' 2.8.
He's still firmly second choice at the club, though, and will have to continue to take advantage of any opportunity Ancelotti throws his way.
At 27, the Costa Rican is considerably younger than 33-year-old Casillas, and his chance as a regular may one day arrive.
Full-Backs
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Alvaro Arbeloa: A
Alvaro Arbeloa was Madrid's first choice right-back in the group stages of the Champions League, only missing the opening match against Basel at the Bernabeu when Nacho Fernandez played.
Having spent several years playing for Liverpool, the matches against the English club would have been special occasions for the 31-year-old.
And both at Anfield and in the Spanish capital, Arbeloa produced distinguished displays.
He was also solid in Bulgaria and Switzerland, against Ludogorets and Basel, respectively, and ended the group with the third goal in Tuesday's 4-0 win.
Marcelo: A
Carlo Ancelotti has used Marcelo in all of Real Madrid's Champions League matches this season, although the Brazilian full-back was reduced to brief substitute appearances in the final two matches.
He played a vital role in the win against Ludogorets early on in the campaign, 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.
With qualification secure after four games, Marcelo was then replaced by the returning Fabio Coentrao.
Nacho Fernandez: C
Versatile defender Nacho Fernandez's first of two starts in the Champions League came as a right-back in the opening match against Basel.
However, his performance didn't stand out, and he was unable to convince Carlo Ancelotti he deserves more playing time in Madrid's first team.
Now 24, it's unlikely he'll ever become a Bernabeu regular, but he did produce a better performance in his more natural position of centre-back against Ludogorets on Tuesday.
He's also appeared as a substitute in Europe on three occasions this season.
Fabio Coentrao: B
Portuguese full-back Fabio Coentrao made his first Real Madrid start since September in the win over Basel in November.
He was one of Madrid's better players, too.
The 26-year-old was an attacking threat down the left, but he didn't neglect his defensive duties and will have been very satisfied with his return to the side.
Another reliable performance followed against Ludogorets at the Bernabeu, before he was replaced by Marcelo on the hour mark.
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 straightforward for Madrid and Ramos, before the 28-year-old was replaced by Raphael Varane in the second half.
In the Spanish capital against Liverpool he improved, and in Switzerland he was fine, although his third yellow card of the competition meant he was suspended for the final match against Ludogorets.
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
Carlo Ancelotti's most used centre-back in the Champions League.
Free of injury problems at last, Raphael Varane has started five matches in Madrid's current European campaign—he came off the bench in the other 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.
Finally, despite being younger than Nacho, he would have been considered the main centre-back in Los Blancos' comfortable win over Ludogorets on Tuesday night.
Midfielders
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Luka Modric: A
Luka Modric had started every match in Europe this season until injury kept him out of the 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
Once again, Toni Kroos was in charge of the midfield battle for Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
WhoScored reveals he had 89 touches and completed 93.7 percent of his passes before being taken off for a breather just after the hour mark.
He was also at the heart of his side's win at Anfield, which was probably Madrid's best performance in the Champions League this season.
His cross set up Karim Benzema's opener, and his corner later led to Madrid's third goal.
Kroos had started the competition slowly, but his importance has grown since, possibly due to feeling more at home in his new surroundings.
Asier Illarramendi: B
Asier Illarramendi has played almost as many minutes in the Champions League as he has in La Liga.
He's started two games in both competitions, although his seven appearances off the bench boost his total playing time in domestic football.
Against Ludogorets on Tuesday evening, he followed up his performance against Celta Vigo with another steady display.
In his other European start, away against the Bulgarians, he also did very little wrong, if not particularly standing out.
His luck could be in at the moment though; he'll need to make the most of Luka Modric's injury and Sami Khedira's fitness problems.
Focusing on the long term, though, his route into Carlo Ancelotti's team looks difficult.
Sami Khedira: n/a
Restricted to a 15 minute appearance off the bench against Liverpool.
Alvaro Medran: n/a
Brief cameo as a substitute against Ludogorets, although it did yield a heavily deflected goal.
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—injury prevented him playing in the final group game.
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
Nobody had more touches of the ball than Isco during Real Madrid's 4-0 win over Ludogorets, according to data from WhoScored.
He was not involved in Los Blancos' opening Champions League game against Basel, but has been one of the top performers in the ensuing five 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.
Isco has also been impressive in the most recent Madrid European performances, against Basel and Ludogorets.
Forwards
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Gareth Bale: B
As a man with high standards, a lot of drive and a goal in last season's Champions League final, Gareth Bale may be slightly disappointed with his form in the competition to date this season.
In his five European appearances during the current campaign, one of which came off the bench, he's scored twice and provided one assist.
His goals came in the first and last group games.
The former Tottenham Hotspur man will also have been disappointed to miss out on a return to England through injury.
Bale's best performance perhaps came in the first match against Basel in Switzerland, while he shimmered without shining in the more recent wins against the Swiss side and Ludogorets.
Cristiano Ronaldo: A
Given the schedule Real Madid have undergone recently and the games they still have to come, it would have made sense to hand Cristiano Ronaldo a rest on Tuesday night.
However, such is the nature of his battle with Lionel Messi to be the top scorer in Champions League history, he started.
And he seemed happy to see a penalty given rather than a goal after Bale had fired home following Marcelinho's handball on the line.
The Portuguese star, of course, converted his 72nd Champions League goal from the spot.
It was his fifth goal in six European starts this season and that total will not satisfy Ronaldo.
In the group stages of this competition last season he scored 10 times, while his 23 goals in 13 league appearances this season is startlingly good.
That doesn't mean he's not been good, though. He's still been very good.
Jese Rodriguez: n/a
Will have been happy to have returned to the Champions League after his injury nightmare. Played for 30 minutes against Ludogorets on Tuesday.
Strikers
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Karim Benzema: A
Real Madrid's No. 9 was possibly their best player in this season's Champions League until he sat out the final game against Ludogorets.
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 in Switzerland, it was his hard work that resulted in a Cristiano Ronaldo tap in for the game's only goal.
Javier Hernandez: C
Javier Hernandez has been unable to make his mark in the Champions League for Real Madrid.
Restricted to just 78 minutes before Tuesday's win over Ludogorets, he then played the full match in the victory over the Bulgarians but couldn't find a European goal.
In his one other start in the competition, in Bulgaria, he was replaced by Karim Benzema after 67 minutes; the French forward went on to score the winner.
His two substitute appearances total just 11 minutes.
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