Ranking Real Madrid's Defenders on Ball-Playing Ability

It hasn't been a particularly great season for defending at Real Madrid. ("That's nothing new," we hear you mumbling.)

In a campaign in which defenders have struggled for form and many of the team's structural flaws have been exposed, goalkeeper Keylor Navas has consistently had to bail out those around him. For the Costa Rican, the extent of his involvement has been telling. 

As such, it's not exactly an opportune moment to rank Madrid's defenders on things such as discipline, positioning, organisation, robustness and stability. So, we haven't.

Instead, in the humdrum of this international break, we've ranked them on the other side to their games across the following slides. 

8. Pepe

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Rugged, forceful, intense, feisty, powerful in the air: Pepe is all of those things. This season, at 33, he's also been one of the few Real Madrid defenders who have maintained a sense of consistency with regard to form. 

If there's one thing he's not, though, it's a consummate ball-playing centre-back. 

Lacking the quick feet and smooth distribution that many around him possess, Pepe typically looks to keep it simple on the ball: short passes, safe options and little flair.

Such tendencies are reflected by a passing accuracy percentage of 87.4—a figure higher than that belonging to many of his more skilled team-mates because there's little risk or adventure in what he does. 

7. Nacho

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Evaluating Nacho's ability on the ball is a little complicated because of his makeshift existence at the Bernabeu. 

When covering for Dani Carvajal or Marcelo in one of the full-back positions, the Spaniard often showcases a willingness to get forward and create, linking up with others and backing himself to beat a man. 

But when used in the centre of the defence, Nacho can become more passive and seems to lack the conviction to get on the ball and be positive, aggressive or proactive. 

Indeed, among the Real Madrid defenders this season, Nacho has been the most conservative, averaging 32.2 short passes per game from an average total of 34.2. 

6. Raphael Varane

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Raphael Varane at No. 6? Really?

Such a ranking might strike as too low for a player of the Frenchman's ability, but it must be remembered that being on the ball isn't his primary strength. Instead, Varane's prowess centres on recovery speed, aerial ability, the capacity to close down angles and passing lanes and the way his pace covers for team-mates. 

That is Varane. 

On the ball, though, the Frenchman is solid without being a standout. Flanking him, Real Madrid's creative full-backs naturally have greater proficiency in this area; often standing alongside him, Sergio Ramos possesses a more diverse range of passing. 

5. Alvaro Arbeloa

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Out of sight, out of mind. At Real Madrid, that's Alvaro Arbeloa. 

Despite being a consistently used backup under manager Carlo Ancelotti, the veteran has been relegated to third in the pecking order at right-back following the arrival of Danilo, who's been in straight competition this season with Dani Carvajal. 

As such, with Arbeloa essentially out of the picture, it's easy to forget that the 33-year-old is actually neat on the ball. 

Though not as explosive as Madrid's other full-backs, the former Spain international possesses a good first touch, composure, clean if unspectacular passing and an ability to link up in tight spaces. 

We just don't see it anymore. 

4. Danilo

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In many ways, Danilo is emblematic of Real Madrid as a whole.

Talented. Explosive. Expensive. Flawed. 

Since Madrid signed him last summer for a colossal €31.5 million, the Brazilian has largely disappointed in 2015-16, but that hasn't been due to his ability going forward. 

On the ball, Danilo can be a potent offensive weapon with powerful running, strong dribbling, a forceful edge and a curious but effective habit for cutting into the inside-right channel rather than providing the overlap. 

It's at the other end of the pitch where there are problems. 

3. Sergio Ramos

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It was early September, and Real Madrid, on the back of three sizzling displays, had just been forced to labour through a difficult afternoon against lowly Granada at the Bernabeu. The visitors had been disciplined and aggressive, their plan clear. It almost worked, too. 

"We covered off their midfielders," said the then-Granada manager Jose Ramon Sandoval. "It left their central defenders on the ball, and without Sergio Ramos they lacked that option to switch the ball quickly."

Ramos had missed the game through injury, and what Sandoval expressed post-match was a part of Ramos' game that is often undervalued: the ability to dictate play from the back. 

Indeed, the Madrid captain is a capable distributor, often flashing balls from side to side, linking with the midfield and playing the dominant, aggressive-minded role in Madrid's centre-back pairing. 

Admittedly, Ramos has struggled for form in 2015-16, but his ball-playing proficiency is often overlooked because of the focus on his passionate, intense, heart-on-the-sleeve style. 

2. Dani Carvajal

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His impact was immediate. 

After injury issues and regular politically fuelled stints on the bench had affected Dani Carvajal the first half of his season, Zinedine Zidane reinstated him in January with great effect. 

Against Deportivo La Coruna he was outstanding as a right-sided creator from full-back. Ditto against Sporting Gijon, Espanyol and Granada. 

Possessing quick feet, vision, strong dribbling skills and a knack for picking out team-mates with pinpoint crosses, Carvajal is a superb option going forward for Madrid. 

In defence, he's just as skilled.  

It's a shame that Madrid's self-imposed, cash-riddled right-back conundrum persists. 

1. Marcelo

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It was never in doubt, was it?

At Real Madrid, no defender can match Marcelo for his proficiency on the ball, touch, creativity, flair and tricks on a different level to those around him.

Essentially a left-winger who simply starts at left-back, the Brazilian is vital to Madrid's attacking fluency. His interplay and dribbling so often lead to scoring chances for team-mates. 

In 2015-16, Marcelo is averaging almost 60 passes per game. Only Toni Kroos and Luka Modric spend more time on the ball. 

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com.