1/10: Real Madrid player ratings in the loss to Getafe

The Bernabéu booed Thiago Pitarch’s substitution. And perhaps that is the image that sums it all up. A snapshot of the present state of this Real Madrid side. At least he was showing some energy. A desire to play football, even if the team seemed incapable of doing so.

Because Madrid, chronically indolent this season, were even more so tonight. In the first half, they were completely static. Passes played to feet, a predictable rhythm, no movement. In the second, there was a gradual crescendo, but it did not truly trouble Getafe until the final fifteen minutes. Throughout it all, the team seemed addicted to giving the ball to Vinicius and crossing their fingers. For long stretches, it was him against the world, accompanied only by the youngster and Güler. Little else happened on a night that should have ended with Rüdiger being sent off. His aggression was as unnecessary as it was unsportsmanlike.

Real Madrid continue down the same path. Thiago Pitarch was a spark, but it was not enough.

Real Madrid player ratings:

Courtois: A night of very little work. He had virtually nothing to do in terms of shots, though he did intervene on a few crosses and was solid in that respect. He cannot be blamed for Satriano’s stunning goal. A quiet performance, largely due to a lack of action. Rating: 5.

Trent (55’): Worse than in recent matches. He offered very little in attack and looked hesitant in defence. His main quality, however, remains clear: a touch worthy of a world-class midfielder, one that greatly facilitates the build-up. That is immediately noticeable. In almost every other aspect, he was invisible. Most disappointing was his lack of runs to the byline, finishing with 28 per cent crossing accuracy, two out of seven. Arbeloa replaced him before the hour mark with Carvajal. Rating: 3.

Rüdiger: His recklessness in the first half was extremely serious. He kneed Diego Rico in the face, an action that should have resulted in a red card and left his team with ten men at 0-0 with more than an hour to play. It was unnecessary, dangerous and unsportsmanlike. Already fired up from a previous challenge, he responded with aggression towards Rico’s face. The blow did not look accidental, and he did not even receive a yellow card. On the pitch, he was far weaker than usual, losing aerial duels and physical battles, and projecting insecurity. Poor. Rating: 1.

Alaba (55’): He could have done more to block Satriano’s thunderous strike, slightly lowering his body and conceding space for the shot. It was an error that stains an otherwise passable display. He was not dazzling, nor particularly assertive. At times he seemed impatient when playing out from the back, overusing long balls instead of progressing forward, and he was not entirely solid in duels. Slightly better than Rüdiger, but far from a performance that improves his standing. Rating: 3.

Carreras: Very discreet. Getafe attacked little down his flank, focusing instead on Trent’s side, so defensively he had few notable actions and made few mistakes. But he also offered little in attack, leaving Vinicius isolated and monopolising the team’s attacking hopes. Rating: 5.

Valverde: Less direct than usual. More static, more restrained in his football. He did not orchestrate the attack, that responsibility fell to Güler, nor did he overwhelm the penalty area with his presence. He began on the right and drifted across the pitch in search of influence that never quite materialised. Below his recent standards. Rating: 4.

Güler (69’): One of the few bright spots, even if it was not a spectacular performance. He kept trying. He became the team’s driving force, dropping deep to receive the ball, carrying it under control, shifting positions to create space, attempting passes between the lines. At times he even took on defenders himself. He nearly scored the goal of the night, perhaps even of the season, with a roulette turn and a left-footed shot that Soria pushed out for a corner. For a brief moment, he looked like Zidane. There was attitude and quality, but it was not enough. Rating: 7.

Tchouameni (87’): Overall, he was good. There is, however, a stain on his performance. He lost the aerial duel that led to Satriano’s goal. He is expected to win those, especially against Arambarri. He arrived late and the play ended decisively. Aside from that, he was solid on the ball and in duels. One of the team’s most consistent performers this season, though his role alone cannot transform the side. Rating: 6.

Thiago Pitarch (55’): The talent is obvious. In one night, he showed he is not a timid teenager with trembling legs, but a diamond in need of confidence, minutes and patience. He displayed mobility, skill and speed, operating across different areas of midfield. He started wide on the left and ended up closer to the centre. He showed personality and intensity, and made it clear he deserves more playing time. The whistles at his substitution said it all. He brought energy and something different. He is different. Rating: 7.

Vinicius: Alone against the world. It was not his best match, but it challenges the narrative. Surrounded by multiple defenders and offered little support, he became the team’s sole plan. Endless circulation of the ball until it reached him, then hope for magic. Again and again. Balls to Vini and wait. This time, the spark did not come. He was less brilliant than in previous outings, but also isolated. In those conditions, it is almost impossible. Rating: 6.

Gonzalo: Almost invisible. In his defence, facing Getafe’s five-man backline as a lone striker is a near impossible task. Constant battles with towering defenders, searching for space where none exists. It was a thankless night. Even when he dropped deeper to help in build-up, he struggled to make an impact. Rating: 3.

Carvajal (55’): Far more incisive in attack, adding the bite and urgency the team needed after the break. Rating: 6.

Huijsen (55’): Somewhat weak in the air and generally unstable, both with and without the ball. He conveyed the same insecurity seen in recent matches. Booked for a tackle from behind that will rule him out of the Vigo match. Rating: 4.

Rodrygo (55’): The team improved with him on the pitch. Very involved in attack, moving freely and seeking a goal both on the ground and in the air. He had a header saved impressively by Soria. Encouraging signs on his return from injury. Rating: 6.

Mastantuono (69’): Very little impact. Slow to beat his full-back, lacking incision with through balls and did not attempt a shot from distance. On a night when he needed to be decisive, he barely featured. With a display like this, reclaiming a starting place seems unlikely. Rating: 3.

Brahim (87’): Too little time to be assessed properly. Rating: N/A.

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