Madrid was worthy of absolutely nothing|Soccrates Images/Getty ImagesReal Madrid dropped to a 3-2 house defeat in their opening Champions League group stage clash with Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday night.
A stunning first half display from the visitors saw them take a shock 3-0 lead, and regardless of early indications of a return from Los Blancos in the second half, the Ukrainian side – missing out on 10 players through injury and COVID-19 – hung on for a famous victory.
VAR judgment out a late Madrid equaliser for offside helped, too.
Soccrates Images/Getty ImagesThibaut Courtois (GK) – 5/10 – Doubtful for the opener and extremely poor for the third – his parry was straight to Detinho. Hmm.Ferland Mendy (RB) – 4/10 –
Can you ever be deemed to have an excellent performance if you yield three? No, but Mendy can take some solace from being the very best of four bad performers.Raphael Varane (CB) – 3/10 –
For a central protector rightly considered among the finest in Europe, it’s amazing how lost he looks without Sergio Ramos alongside him.Eder Militao (CB) – 2/10 –
A prospect, sure, but Militao has been unable to string a consistent run of efficiencies together at Genuine. He was torn apart by the delightful fluidity of Shakhtar’s forwards and basically didn’t even attempt to stop said forwards for their third goal.Marcelo (LB) – 4/10 –
Just like most of the side, he improved after a stern rollicking from Zidane, but his positional awareness was so alarming throughout that he provided the Shakhtar forwards area to play into.
Modric scored a stunner|DeFodi Images/Getty ImagesFederico Valverde (CM) – 4/10 – Starting zipping the ball about with far more urgency after the break. Quite chalk and cheese trips in either 45, but his very first half showing can’t earn him more than a four.Casemiro (CM) – 5/10 –
Got captured out various times by Shakhtar’s deep midfield runners, who had him going after shadows for much of the game.Luka Modric (CM) – 6/10 –
Came off in the 2nd half to supply fresh legs, however while he goal was splendid, he was still method off the pace in the opening period.
Soccrates Images/Getty ImagesShakhtar Donetsk Player RatingsA typical sight
Really wise play from Dodo to sound out the accurate moments to make forward runs. Smart play from the Brazilian who kept Rodrygo twiddling
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