Real Madrid’s Forgettable Night: Manchester City Dominates en Route to Champions League Final
The match at the Etihad Stadium proved to be an unforgettable experience for Real Madrid, albeit for all the wrong reasons, as Manchester City showcased complete dominance on their path to the Champions League final.
The extent of Manchester City’s control was so overwhelming that Real Madrid appeared unrecognizable, failing to resemble the reigning champions of this prestigious tournament.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team suffered a comprehensive loss, and only a few Madrid players received favorable ratings for their performances on Wednesday night. Let’s take a closer look at the player ratings below and discuss whether you agree with our assessments.
Thibaut Courtois, the Belgian shot-stopper, put on a remarkable display and certainly did not deserve to concede four goals, none of which were his fault. His presence and outstanding saves, particularly against Haaland, prevented Manchester City from potentially securing a more significant victory, possibly by a margin of six or seven goals.
Final Mark: 10/10
Carvajal
The Spanish full-back faced difficulties in containing Jack Grealish, allowing the English forward ample time on the ball and allowing him to push deep into the defensive zone. As a result, the full-back’s contributions in the attacking aspect were limited. However, it’s worth noting that he rarely got beaten in one-on-one situations against Grealish and demonstrated great effort throughout the match.
Final Mark: 5/10
Eder Militao: Overwhelmed by City’s Attack
The Brazilian defender struggled to cope with the relentless City attack, appearing unsettled and insecure throughout the match.
Final Mark: 4/10
Alaba : Similarly, the Austrian player found it challenging to handle the intensity of Manchester City’s attacks, with Haaland, in particular, outplaying him on multiple occasions.
Final Mark: 4/10
Once again, Camavinga appeared to struggle defensively, particularly at left-back, as he was found wanting for three of Manchester City’s goals over the two legs. His performance tonight highlighted his vulnerability in that position.
Final Mark: 4/10
While Kroos came close to a spectacular goal with one almost-wonder strike, he had a relatively subdued performance overall. Despite this, he stood out as the best performer among Madrid’s midfielders, albeit in a below-par collective display.
Final Mark: 5/10
Valverde struggled to make his usual impact on the game and was largely absent in terms of significant contributions. It was primarily his physical attributes that justified his presence on the pitch, as Ancelotti made the decision to substitute off Modric and Kroos instead.
Final Mark: 4/10
Modric’s performance fell far below the standards we have come to expect from the Croatian maestro. In the first half, he struggled to make any notable impact and failed to get involved in the game. Even in the second half, when Real Madrid had more possession, Modric was unable to assert his influence and impose himself on the match.
Final Mark: 4/10
Rodrygo’s performance was underwhelming as he struggled to make a significant impact on the game. He had to drop deep in order to get involved and even then, his contributions were minimal. It came as no surprise that he was ultimately substituted.
Final Mark: 4/10
In what turned out to be a disappointing night for Madrid, even Vinicius struggled to make an impact and create opportunities. It was an unusually quiet performance from him, possibly the quietest he has had in over a year, as Manchester City effectively neutralized his influence on the game.
Final Mark: 4/10
Benzema seemed out of sorts and had an anonymous presence on the pitch, failing to fulfill the role of the talisman Madrid needed on such a crucial night.
Final Mark: 4/10
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