Player analysis: Bale - incisive; Cristiano - ineffective

Zidane's side didn't really get it together at any point in today's meeting with Eibar. Benzema was absent, Pepe, the best in a changed defence. Here's how the team ranked, player by player.

Player rating

Keylor: He couldn't stop Fran Rico from giving Eibar a sixth minute lead but he did deal well with a  Pedro León strike soon after. He didn't have much to do in the second half.

Carvajal: One of his weakest games of the season. He hardly appeared in attack and struggled trying to close off his wing where Pedro León and Capa were able to whip in crosses almost at will.

Varane: A poor performance by the French centre-back. Imprecise in carrying the ball out from the first third and beaten way too often in the air. He almost gifted Eibar a second goal after losing the ball in a dangerous zone. He was taken off at half-time after experiencing twinges.

Pepe: His pace was key in cutting off a number of Eibar counter attacks in the second half while Madrid were stretched going forward.

Danilo: He looked good going forward but suffered trying to handle Capa and Pedro León. His best move was the threaded ball he played in to Benzema, who should have done better.

Kroos: Playing Casemiro's role. He looked effective switching play and laid off some decent passes in strategic moves, but in that position he is unable to call on his major strengths as he is deployed too deep.

Isco: He got better as the game wore on, and created danger out wide on the right with a few good combination moves with Bale. But as the minutes went by he vanished from the game all together. He had a good chance in the second half, but wasted it after trying to cut inside an opponent. An insipid game by his standrads, and he ended up being whistled by the Bernabéu and replaced by Asensio on 70 minutes.

Kovacic: He entered the starting XI after James complained of discomfort in the warm-up. Good at winning back possession and his involvement in Madrid's moves, a decent display. He grew in confidence in the second half and played a part in some of the team's best moves.

Bale: The best out of the 'BBC'. He connected with a Cristiano centre to head home the equaliser on 17 minutes, and sent another header against the post on the hour, his forays down the right channel always generated anxiety for the visitors.

Benzema: Lacklustre, drab and characterless. Sometimes, you wondered whether he was actually on the pitch. He didn't drop back to help out the midfield and was not where he should be when balls were played into the area. He was subbed at half-time as he suffered physical problems.

Cristiano: While he supplied the cross for Bale's goal, he was not quite so clinical himself when presented with chances on goal. His ball control and first touch let him down a few times when he would have been perfectly-placed to test Riesgo. The Eibar keeper also detained a header of his in the second half which he normally would have buried.

Nacho: He came on for Varane at half-time. A decent display. Good at reading Eibar's passing and cutting off their circulation of the ball, confident and sturdy at dealing with high balls… He didn't look like he struggled at all.

Morata: Replaced Benzema at the break. While he didn't have much luck in front of goal he did have one ruled out and was a vast improvement on Benzema. Good at shielding balls with his back to goal, he battled for every ball and turned Eibar's centre-backs inside out with his twisting runs.

Asensio: He came on for Isco on 70 minutes but hardly had much time to make an impact. He did have one chance on 84 minutes but mistimed his jump and his header sailed over.