LaLiga: El Clasico player ratings as Barcelona brush aside Real Madrid 3-0

It’s the biggest match in world football – El Clasico – and Barcelona emerged victorious. This means they are now 14 points clear of their arch rivals, Real Madrid. In a game which has all but ended Madrid’s title defence, let’s see how both teams fared over the course of 90 minutes.

REAL MADRID

Keylor Navas – 8

The Madrid stopper showed just how good he can be with a fantastic fingertip save to deny Paulinho in the first half. With his team losing all resemblance of shape and order following the red card, he continued to keep the scoreline respectable. Perhaps the Madrid player to come out of this with any real credit.

Dani Carvajal – 3

Carvajal was an energetic as you’d expect, pushing forward to put pressure on Alba at every opportunity. He got in behind once or twice but couldn’t quite produce a cross with enough quality to trouble Barcelona. Carvajal was sent off as he saved Paulinho’s goal bound effort. Instinctive, maybe, but it basically ended his team’s hopes of getting back into the match – and the title race.

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Raphael Varane – 6

Like his teammates, Varane was playing quite high up the pitch for a defender and that was causing Barcelona’s attacks to break down. He made a crucial interception to stop Roberto’s cross reaching Suarez. The team fell apart in the second half and there wasn’t much he could do to stop wave after wave of Barcelona attacks.

Sergio Ramos – 4

A classic Ramos performance in El Clasico. You felt his intention was to upset the rhythm of Barcelona and his constant fouling did that. Later on, born out of frustration, he smashed his arm across Suarez’s face and should’ve been sent off for the fourth time in his last eight Clasicos. Poor.

Marcelo – 6

If you base it on the opening 45 mintues alone, this was one of the best performances from the Brazilian this season. Defensively sound, he was such a threat going forward and had a lot of joy due to Roberto being left isolated on that side. Like Carvajal, could do with improving his final ball though. He was unable to stop Barcelona’s superiority after the break.

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Luka Modric – 7

The Croatian was wonderful in the first half, playing a little further forward than he usually does. His movement and vision helped start so many of Madrid’s counterattacks. He was lost in the implosion of the second half, like everybody else in a white shirt. Still, if Madrid were to create anything, you knew it’d come via the boots of Modric.

Casemiro – 6

Alongside Kovacic, their task was to track the runs of Messi and essentially stop Barcelona’s best form of attack. This saw him get caught way out of position for Barcelona’s goal as Rakitic had the centre of midfield all to himself. Any kind of shape disappeared after the break. Replaced by Bale late in the second half.

Toni Kroos – 6

Not the German’s best game. Typically efficient in possession but never really got a hold of the midfield. Hard to remember Kroos being so ineffective in a high profile match.

Mateo Kovacic – 5

Zidane opted for Kovacic over Isco and for 45 minutes, it worked. The young Croatian international helped shackle Messi’s influence but ran out of steam. For Barcelona’s first goal he simply gave up on trying to catch his compatriot Rakitic. If Carvajal wasn’t sent off, he’d have been replaced much sooner.

Karim Benzema – 5

Another game, another nothing performance. Benzema works hard for the team but simply doesn’t do enough. His hold-up play was poor, as was his decision-making. A nice header in the first half hit the post but that was about it for Benzema. He contributed very little else to the game. Replaced by Nacho Fernandez following the red card.

Cristiano Ronaldo – 6

On the biggest stage, Cristiano loves to prove his ‘I am the best’ mantra is true. He was lively in the first half, even dropping into midfield to win back possession for Madrid. However his influence waned as the team did, being left to feed on scraps. Even a switch to playing as the lone striker didn’t improve matters. Not his day.

Substitutes

Gareth Bale – Had very little time to exert his influence on proceedings. Maybe should’ve scored from Modric’s pass
Nacho Fernandez – Came on to replace Carvajal but the game was over by then
Marco Asensio – Like Bale, there wasn’t much he could do by the time he came on

BARCELONA

Marc-Andre ter Stegen – 8

It’s hard to get the praise and respect you deserve when you play for a side which contains so many superstars. Ter Stegen’s progression from good to great in the last six months is phenomenal. Whenever Madrid did fashion out chances he was there to deny them. Made a fine save with his leg to stop Cristiano opening the scoring.

Sergi Roberto – 7

For someone who is a central midfielder by trade, Roberto is developing into a fine right-back. Overrun in the first half as no one in the midfield wanted to move across and help him, he grew into the game. Roberto doesn’t make rash challenges and tries to read the play. Had more freedom in the second half. Solid.

Gerard Piqué – 8

We all know Pique says it how it is. I’m sure even he would admit that he hasn’t been anywhere near his best this season but he was pretty damn good today. In the opening 45 minutes he was dragged out of position to help out his full-backs but led by example. Never put a foot wrong.

Thomas Vermaelen – 6

It was quite the baptism of fire for Vermalen on his first El Clasico start. Booked early doors for bringing Modric down and then lost Benzema as the Frenchman’s header hit the post. However he settled down in the second half and when Madrid went down to 10 men had very little to do. Helped make the loss of Umtiti appear insignificant.

Jordi Alba – 6

Not one of Alba’s strongest games but did the defensive work quite well. His battle with Carvajal was an intriguing one until the latter was sent off.

Ivan Rakitic – 7

Rakitic is perhaps the most likely candidate to lose his place in this Barcelona midfield should a certain Philippe Coutinho arrive either in January or next summer. That pressure can cause a player to underperform at times. But today he played a key role in the first goal, charging forward and exploiting the space in the middle. He was tidy in possession too.

Sergio Busquets – 9

This performance was the cherry on the top of Busquets’ last six months. We are seeing the best version of the Barcelona anchor man this season and he’s a joy to watch. Constantly there to block and break up attacks he also created the crucial opening goal. Fashioning a yard of space he sent Rakitic free and the ball eventually ended up in the net. Magnificent.

Paulinho – 8

The man who started the season as something of a joke is making everyone eat their words. When Barcelona were on the back foot Paulinho was the main thorn in Madrid’s side. His runs into the box almost resulted in him scoring the opening goal. He was denied another goal when Carvajal stopped his effort – with his hand.

Iniesta – 6

Mr Reliable, Mr Barcelona. Iniesta is no spring chicken but was the calming influence in the first half. With his side under the cosh he was constantly barking out orders to keep their cool, maintain possession. He didn’t go a great deal but his presence alone helped steady the ship.

Lionel Messi – 8

Ah, Leo. The leading scorer in El Clasico history had two markers but still managed to find a way to influence proceedings. His goal might have come from the penalty spot but he exploited every Madrid error. He knew Kovacic was following his every move and that left space for his teammates to take advantage of. When Madrid were a man down, he constantly found pockets of space and created chances for Barcelona to extend their lead.

Luis Suárez – 7

Suarez has finished 2017 in the goalscoring form we’ve all come to expect from him. While still not at his best, he gets himself into good positions and was there to score the opening goal. A bit of theatrics with Casemiro probably didn’t help his case when he was legitimately caught in the face by Ramos.

Substitutes

Nelson Semedo – Replaced Iniesta and nearly got on the scoresheet but Navas saved well
Andre Gomes – Had a chance to score too but fluffed his lines
Aleix Vidal – A late, late substitute but unlike the others didn’t miss his chance to score.