Levante 0-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid battled it out again
(Source Realmadrid.com)
Another game where I can say that real madrid could have ended up on the loosing side but again, the quality of real madrid players showed in the second half with 2 beauty of a strikers from van nistelrooy gave real madrid in the end a comfortable win although levante had the better chances throughout the first half. Real madrid defended very well, apart from a mistake from none other than pepe, which allowed real madrid to score goals and then real madrid just sat back, slowed the game down and hit on the counter.It was a very tough match like the one last week but real madrid are now handling these games very well where it is difficult for the players to motivate themselves against a inferior side like levante but I am glad they suffered and came out winners, away from home in the difficult ground with 2 out of 4 first choice defenders did not play due to injuries.
real madrid players rating
Casillas 7 : Casillas was again the man of the match for me. Really after seeing the game against mallorca in the copa del ray everyone can imagine what casillas is worth to real madrid because without him real madrid would concede far more goals than they are at the moment with him. His positioning was good today, also his handling was not bad either when he stopped a whipped in cross inside the six yard area with ease as had he bobbled that ball it could have lead to a goal but he didn’t disappoint.
Casillas as usual had a good game
(Source Realmadrid.com)
Torres 8 : Was very solid today, I did criticize him in recent weeks but I still think he is not world class, he needs to pay more to get there. He has lots of potential in him. He is very creative in going forward, hats off to capello who got him out of the reserve team and promoted him to first team. He worked very hard in this match, which enabled real madrid to attack with more flare and vigour.
Torres a bright future for real madrid back line
(Source Realmadrid.com)
Cannavaro 6 : His performance was average today and as I predicted that he only motivates himself in the big matches he did not do too well in this match. Cannavaro now surely isn’t the cannavaro of the world cup 2006 or the one we saw in juventus where he was making some unbelievable tackles, may be the system in Italy suits him better. Anyway, did what he had to do.
Pepe 6 : I don’t know but he did not look like the pepe I saw at barcelona. The commentators on espn were really criticizing pepe in that match. He was injured before the match in the warm ups but still played the full 90 minutes. Made one horrendous mistake but recovered in time as levante’s forward was no rooney to get away with shear pace and will. I thought he looked calm apart from that mistake which could have cost real madrid the win but luck was on his side today. I just like his aerial game, he handles air balls very well.
Marcelo 7 : He is really getting into his groove now and is starting to show some people why they call him roberto carlos well he may not be able to run as fast as carlos or have the same shot power but his tackling his very much like carlos’s, very precise and effective. He was again wonderful at going forward linked up with Robinho well, later on with Drenthe. I think he just needs some more confidence and who knows real madrid might as well end up with another roberto carlos.
Gago 9 : Gago played very well in this match, filled in for diarra very well, worked extremely hard all the 90 minutes. his distribution was far better than diarras. He has a little more pace as well but diarra has such a big physical presence in the midfield. Gago’s touch on the ball was magnificent and played some penetrating balls with accuracy. Schuster looked very happy with him, maybe diarra going to African cup of nations is a blessing in disguise.
(Source Realmadrid.com)
Sneijder 5 : Now I am thinking to myself that real madrid might have invested poorly this season, proof is sneijder. I dont know what has happened to him, he looked such a brilliant player in the opening weekends of la liga but since then his form has dipped and dipped and now it has hit rock bottom. He doesn’t look like a midfielder to me, doesn’t handle the pressing midfielders very well, mentally I think he is not strong enough yet. Maybe he will improve but I think if he doesn’t start performing soon he might as well find himself warming up the substitute bench.
Doesnt have the greatest touch on the ball, you might feel
(Source Realmadrid.com)
Baptista 6 : Did not play to his potential and as I suspected, he is not consistent enough to be in the first team, certainly looks that way as after the barcelona game he hasn’t quite given an impact on the game with his strength and power. Got substituted because I think he makes a mess of too many moves when real madrid build up an attack. Wasn’t impressive and it wouldn’t surprise me if he does gets the ax from the starting eleven.
Baptista, desperate to get some form going
(Source Realmadrid.com)
Robinho 7 : Didn’t dazzle the real madrid fans with his dribbling tonight but just his pace is enough to get real madrid attacking engine going. Hit the post in the second half apart from that it was a quiet game for him. He did some good work from the left wing, occasionally shifted in the center of the midfield just to help real madrid midfield pressurise the opposition.
Played well but just could not keep his scoring streak growing
(Source Realmadrid.com)
Raul 7 : Seriously I am not going to give him less than that in any game whether he scores goals or not. Just for his commitment and work ethic I think he deserves to be in this real madrid side which is just dominating la liga at the moment. Raul on more than one occasion showed his anticipation skills as he didn’t let the defenders to rest for even a second and stole the ball while levante’s defenders were trying to keep the ball to waste time but then again who doesn’t do that when the opposition is as mighty as real madrid.
Van Nistelrooy 9 : May not have played at his top gear for the whole game but I think two goals away from home is enough to earn him a 9er. Scored in the 77nth minute and 88th minute to give real madrid a comfortable win in the end. His first goal was from a penalty where he held his nerve and placed the ball nicely into the corner. Second strike was even sweeter was he caught the keeper off-guard and drove a powerful shot outside the box into the bottom corner of the net.
Van nistelrooy celebrates his contract renewal with a brace
(Source Realmadrid.com)
Higuain 8 : Normally I do not mention the rating’s for substitute but when a substitute plays as well as higuain did in that match then there isn’t any choice but to do so. He was the brains behind the two goals, his cross was stopped by levante’s defender with his arm and a penalty was awarded to real madrid. Higuain showed his true talent in the second goal as he distracted the defender with his superb run into the box, giving van nistelrooy enough space to line up a shot and score a goal. He plays a very vertical game and his positioning abilities really shows his potential.
Van nistelrooy appreciating higuain’s contribution in both the goals
(Source Realmadrid.com)
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