REAL MADRID
Real Madrid player ratings vs Eibar: forgettable day at Ipurua
Benzema fought hard and Courtois did what he could by Real Madrid were humiliated all over the field against an Eibar side who worked hard and won deservedly.
Real Madrid fell to Eibar on Saturday afternoon with the home side recording their first ever win against los Blancos. Beznema, up front, tried hard but Bale and Asensio alongside him struggled and while Courtois did his best to keep Eibar at bay, he was let down by his defenders. Here are the ratings for Real Madrid's players after a historic defeat at Ipurua.
Courtois: Saved Real Madrid with the first shot from Eibar as he touched Kike Garcia's shot onto the post. Made a save for the first goal but after a scramble, Eibar knocked it home. He saved 4-0 twice but couldn't do anything with the second or third goals.
Odriozola: Suffered against Cucurella, who ran down the left to send the ball in for the first goal. Didn't have much help from Bale or Modric and he couldn't attack as he might have liked. Gave away the ball for the second goal and was injured as disaster struck for him. Not a very good day at the office on any front.
Varane: Not good. Caused uncertainty at the back on a number of occasions and could not contain Kike Garcia and Cucurella. In the second half, he was at fault for the third goal as he was beaten in the middle as Kike Garcia poked home.
Ramos: Like Varane, he was bad and it was noticeable. The day after news broke that he had failed multiple doping tests, he seemed affected. He couldn't stop Kike Garcia in the 3rd minute and had to be saved by Courtois. Could have done better for the third goal and was just not at the races at all.
Marcelo: Played further up the field that Odrioziola and looked to overload that side with no luck. In defense, Eibar attacked the right and Marcelo's side was quieter than usual. Left spaces behind him for the third goal. On a horrible day for Real Madrid, Marcelo acquitted himself well.
Ceballos: Replacing Casemiro is not his ideal role as he sufferes with the tacical concepts that the Brazilian has mastered. He plays a different style and Solari discarded Llorente as an option with the defensive midfielder not even on the bench. Failed to clear for the first and Orellana nutmegged him in the second half, which nearly led to a fourth and was a good snapshot of how easily Eibar played around him.
Kroos: Madrid didn't have enough of the ball in the first half and that was due to lack of options ahead of him and speed of passing in circulation by the German. A dodgy pass by him to Odriozola that ended with a goal for Eibar and which really hurt Real Madrid. Forgettable day for him.
Modric: Another Real Madrid midfielder who didn't add balance. Didn't look good physically and that shows when he is trying to change the pace of attack and unbalance the opposition. Did not help Odriozola to contain Cucurella in the first half as the full back did what he wanted. More of the same in the second half. Solari noticed that he was adding nothing in defence or attack and removed him after 63 minutes for Isco.
Bale: The Welsh attacker likes to play with Space ahead of him and with Eibar's pressure, they allowed him in behind. His teammates could not find him though and he was unable to get in behind their defense with the ball. Got a yellow for protesting and Modric had to prevent him from getting a second after a number of tough fouls. Tried hard to get one back for Real Madrid but shooting was off target and his passing wasn't great either.
Benzema: The most plugged in on all Real Madrid's attacker. Had the best chance of the game in the first half but needed to hit it harder as Eibar recovered and cleared. Got caught offside too many times but at 3-0, was the only player that tried to turn it around and seemed concerned.
Asensio: After plenty of talk during the international break, Asensio returned to the starting eleven. He failed. He didn't link well with Marcelo on the left and couldn't connect with his crosses. Worrying for Asensio in what was supposed to be a breakout season, he was removed on 74 minutes, and continues to struggle.
Carvajal: Came on for Odriozola, contributed little in attack and lost Cucurella at the back for the third goal. But how much can you ask of him as he has been out since early October.
Isco: Entered the field on 63 minutes for Modric. Didn't change to tone of the game but Real Madrid were already rolling downhill fast at that stage.
Vinicius: Replaced Asensio after 74 minutes but didn't do much aside from an offside play where he found himself in a good position.
