Real Madrid 2-2 Barcelona: El Clásico Player Ratings

Advantage Barcelona. 

Yes, this was a Barcelona side that started without Xavi, Gerard Piqué and Sergio Busquets.

That had a mediocre preseason and were dominated by Real Madrid last night.

Yet Barcelona go into the penultimate Supercopa de España game in three days time with two invaluable away goals. 

It's a bitter pill to swallow for Real Madrid manager José Mourinho, whose team were sharp, fit, hungry, and surprisingly out-passed a lackluster, seemingly unfit, creative-less and tired-looking Barcelona side.

It seems both sides have found their scapegoat—referee Teixeira Vitienes.

Barcelona fans cry foul over Pedro being brought down by a guilt-ridden Marcelo in the penalty area. Yet fail to acknowledge Victor Valdés purposely impeding Cristiano Ronaldo.

Real Madrid fans complain about referee Vitienes constantly blowing the whistle against them.

But turn a blind eye to him assuming Dani Alves emulated his Oscar-worthy performance last season, when in fact Pepe brutally followed through with intent to hurt.

Here are the player ratings for the Real Madrid and Barcelona players.

Real Madrid: Iker Casillas

Player rating: 5/10 

Iker Casillas did nothing aside from bite his tongue when David Villa scored that peach of a goal.

Barcelona shot on goal twice and scored twice.

Barcelona: Victor Valdés

Player rating: 8.5/10 

Man of the match. 

What a performance, what a save to deny Karim Benzema, and was efficient in distribution.

Victor Valdés asserted himself in the match, he made himself big, he was in among it like usual, and his compatriot David de Gea should take note.

Though Valdés' decision to trip Cristiano Ronaldo, after spilling a routine cross, went unpunished but could have easily cost Barcelona the game.

In the past, Valdés has made mistake after mistake, but Barcelona fans will be hoping he can continue in such imperious goalkeeping form.

If he plays like this and Iker Casillas starts making mistakes, starts routinely conceding long range goals like de Gea—Valdés has a chance to be the Spanish No. 1.

Real Madrid: Marcelo

Player rating: 5.5/10

The presence of Alexis Sánchez stopped Marcelo from being his normal cavalier-like wingback, and whilst Sánchez did beat Marcelo off the dribble, the Chilean was kept pretty quiet throughout the game.

Barcelona: Adriano

Player rating: 6/10

Wasn't good in attack yet wasn't bad in defence, had a so-so performance, which has summed his career at Barcelona so far. 

He does what is asked of him but should extend himself to play better, to be more adventrous, to be more commanding.

Certainly he's a shade of the Sevilla Adriano, the one that made Barcelona cough up €9.5 million.

Real Madrid: Ricardo Carvalho

Player rating: 6/10

Made one strong tackle to win the ball off Lionel Messi and that was about it.

Most of what Ricardo Carvalho did tonight was covering for his rambunctious partner Pepe, who surged forward from time to time.   

Barcelona: Éric Abidal

Player rating: 3/10

You know you've played badly when a defensive midfielder-turned-centre back looks better then you.

Éric Abidal was turned inside out by Karim Benzema and was just lost at sea when Real Madrid raided Barcelona's back four time after time after time. 

Poor finishing rather than good defending was the reason why Real Madrid didn't run away with the match.

It's time to give Andreu Fontàs a chance at centre back.

Real Madrid: Pepe

Player rating: 7/10 

Pepe is a player every team wants on their team, just such a robust and team-oriented player whose hard yards allow other players to reap the profits. 

Nonetheless, regardless of whether it was payback to Dani Alves, Pepe following through was deliberate, dangerous and as disgraceful as Alves cheating to get the Portuguese enforcer sent off. 

Held the ball up strongly to allow Xabi Alonso to score. 

I say to Real Madrid manager José Mourinho, play Pepe as a defensive midfielder rather then a centre back.

Barcelona: Javier Mascherano

Player rating: 6/10

In his Barcelona career, Javier Mascherano seemingly has forgotten he used to be a hard man, and has dived more than he has tackled. 

Nonetheless, he tried his best even out of position, and made one excellent challenge to deny Karim Benzema.

But really, Mascherano is the odd one out, a player is not sophisticated enough to be apart of the Tiki-taka system let alone help benefit Barcelona.

Whilst he's not as bad as Philippe Christanval, Mascherano will never live up to the absurd €25 million paid for him.

Real Madrid: Sergio Ramos

Player rating: 6/10

If not for giving David Villa space to shoot, Sergio Ramos' rating would be a 7/10, because he shut down Villa except for one moment.

That moment cost Real Madrid dearly. 

Ramos had an uncharacteristically discplined performance and he didn't receive a yellow card. 

Last season he went on a cringeworthy streak in which he massed 10 yellow cards in 16 games.

It was the sixth season in a row that he went past 10 yellow cards or more in a season.  

Barcelona: Dani Alves

Player rating: 7/10

Surprisingly Dani Alves was stronger in defence than attack, as he made some very good blocks and denied Cristiano Ronaldo a few times. 

He was also the victim of a crude and disappointing tackle by Pepe who was exacting revenge on the Brazilian, after his Oscar-winning dive last season all but killed off Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League aspirations.

Real Madrid: Sami Khedira

Player rating: 6/10

Sami Khedira's work in the first 30 minutes was verging on man of the match, but as the game progressed, he deteriorated.

Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has limited Khedira, a strong box-to-box threat for Germany and Stuggart, and turned him into a dull, disciplined defensive midfielder. 

He's doing a good job, but he's not cutting it, and I say either play Pepe there, or try out Nuri Şahin. 

Barcelona: Seydou Keita

Player rating: 4/10

Did Seydou Keita even play? He was overrun, he had no influence and unsurprisingly Barcelona were under the kosh for prolonged periods of the game because Keita's was AWOL in midfield. 

Real Madrid: Xabi Alonso

Player rating: 7/10

Xabi Alonso is such an important member to this Real Madrid side, that you begin to think what then Liverpool manager Rafa Benítez was thinking by telling Alonso that he was going to be replaced by Gareth Barry. 

Alonso was strong in contesting, was good in transitioning defence into attack, and spearheaded Real Madrid's attacking forrays for the first 30 minutes or so.

He also scored an important equaliser to save Real Madrid's face after Los Merengues had dominated the game.

Barcelona: Andrés Iniesta

Player rating: 5/10

Andrés Iniesta was very ordinary, perhaps even below par, and whilst he didn't play badly, he also didn't influence the game as he usually does. 

Maybe it's because his partner in crime Xavi wasn't playing. Either way, Iniesta was anonymous for most of the game.  

Real Madrid: Mesut Özil

Player rating: 7.5/10

To think Liverpool signed Jordan Henderson for £16 million, whereas Mesut Özil was signed for €15 million, which is the equivalent of £13 million.

Özil's wizardry was on show for most of the game, none more evident when he sent in a pinpoint perfect cross only for Karim Benzema to waste.   

The German national team looks transcendent with a possible midfield trio of  Özil, Mario Götze and Thomas Müller—überlegen.

Barcelona: Thiago Alcântara

Player rating: 5.5/10

It's a learning curve for Thiago Alcântara, and whilst he showed his swift dribbling ability on several occasions, his influence was blunted by Real Madrid's midfield wall. 

With the signing of Cesc Fàbregas, I fear for Thiago's development, because it's likely to be stunted. 

If David Villa goes on a scoring drought or doesn't have influence on games, Thiago has to be given a chance in Villa's position.

As where else is he going to get a game at? Centre back? 

Arsenal should have held out for Thiago plus money for Fàbregas.

Real Madrid: Ángel Di María

Player rating: 5.5/10

Ángel di María was industrious when Real Madrid were dominating, but as Barcelona fought their way back into the game, di María slipped out of the game.

Barcelona: Alexis Sánchez

Player rating: 5.5/10

Alexis Sánchez had an inconspicuous start to his Barcleona career. 

He went straight past Marcelo on one occasion, but aside from that, he was left stranded on the flanks like he was at Udinese.

As I said previously about Alexis, "Here was a player who was having no impact on the wings, his body language was negative, he looked nonplus and in a critical game against Juventus, he flopped so badly that he was substituted in the 69th minute.

"He was relegated to the bench for the next few games, but then manager Francesco Guidolin did something bold by moving Sánchez from the wings into a withdrawn forward role behind Di Natale

[...]

"Now, do you know who plays in his position at Barcelona?

"Current FIFA Ballon d'Or and future FIFA Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi."

Real Madrid: Cristiano Ronaldo

Player rating: 6/10

Cristiano Ronaldo was very lively when Real Madrid were on top of proceedings, but he failed to capitlise on his chances.

This was his opportunity, with Lionel Messi being a non-factor; Ronaldo could lead Real Madrid to a redeeming 5-0 victory—it looked headed that way for the first half hour.

He was ingeniously and cunningly brought down by Victor Valdés after Ronaldo attempted to retrieve the ball.

Some Barcelona fans have accused Ronaldo of diving.

What an absurd conclusion to reach after Valdés clearly impeded Ronaldo.

Though a valid conclusion would be that Ronaldo's reputation as a diver made it easier for referee Teixeira Vitienes to wave away the penalty claim.

It was a clear-cut penalty.

Barcelona: David Villa

Player rating: 7/10

Disregarding the goal, David Villa's rating would be a 5/10, because he didn't really do anything in the game.

Yes, the goal was good but let's be critical.

Last season, Villa could not impact the games because the right back knew Villa was going to cut in and shoot.

Even if he took the ball to the byline, he'd have to cross with his left foot, and to who?

It's a problem Barcelona need to look at, because the chances of Villa scoring another goal like that are as likely as Cristiano Ronaldo scoring from his trademark free kick.

Real Madrid: Karim Benzema

Player rating: 7/10

Finally Karim Benzema is showing extended moments of his ability, but now he needs to convert his chances. 

He should have buried that beautiful cross from Mesut Özil; instead he headed the ball straight into the waiting hands of Victor Valdés.

Benzema has had a terrific preseason and his confidence that he's good enough to be a Real Madrid player was evident in him embarassing his compatriot Éric Abidal. 

Benzema at his lowest would have shielded the ball and passed it sideways or backwards, rather than beating Abidal of the dribble and providing Özil for the first goal.

Barcelona: Lionel Messi

Player rating: 8/10

According to Sport, Lionel Messi struggled with sickness throughout the game, and vomited at half time.

Would explain a quiet Messi, but even with the sickness, he bounced off Sami Khedira, took advantage of Pepe's untimely slip and scored the decisive goal.   

Also, who was the one who passed the ball to David Villa before he scored that beautiful goal?

Messi.

Substitutes

* Will rate out of five, given they didn't play a half let alone a full game. 

Real Madrid

José Callejón: I always liked him at Espanyol, and in his cameo, he demonstrated heart and determination. 4/5 

Fábio Coentrão: €30 million for a utility player is a waste, but he did what was asked of him. 3/5

Gonzalo Higuaín: Only played 10 or so minutes and will be aware of Karim Benzema's form. 2/5 

Barcelona

Gerard Piqué: Brought some needed stability to a shaky Barcelona defence. Will need to step up his game with Carles Puyol frequently spending more and more time on the treatment table. 4/5 

Pedro: After all that hard work and tracking back, he still found himself on the bench against Real Madrid. Should have been awarded a penalty when he got in front of Marcelo. 3.5/5

Xavi: Organised the midfield well when he came on, and demonstrated how important he is to Barcelona's Tiki-taka system. 5/5

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