Thibaut Courtois: 8. Difficult to blame him for one or the other goal conceded. He made three saves, including two massive interventions to keep Real Madrid in the match.
Denzel Dumfries: 5.5. Bad defensively, especially on AEK’s second goal. His assists and threatening overloads offered some compensation, but his defensive work left much to be desired.
Éder Militão: 6. He took several defensive bets that didn’t pay off. It still doesn’t seem to fit perfectly.
Antonio Rudiger: 6.5. Distributed the ball well but was a little slow to read the game. The absence of Real Madrid’s two starting central defenders was felt throughout the evening.
Marc Cucurella: 7.5. He couldn’t stop Koita’s shot for AEK’s opener, but he defended well overall despite little help on his flank. Constantly threatened with his runs into the final third and played several good passes, including the assist for Jude Bellingham. Unlucky not to score.
Bernardo Silva: 7. He had some difficulties off the ball, but he was reassured with the ball at his feet and important for the preparation of Real Madrid.
Eduardo Camavinga: 7.5. A few bad defensive sequences, but also nine tackles. His initial escape from pressure was an important part of the move leading to Real Madrid’s second goal.
Yan Diomandé: 7.5. A constant threat with his dribbling, creating space to deliver crosses and cutbacks. Completed four dribbles, more than anyone on the court.
Jude Bellingham: 8.5. Real Madrid’s best player alongside Valverde. A wizard who pulls the strings, especially in the first half, and scores one of the goals of the season.
Vinicius Junior: 4. He lost possession 11 times, didn’t complete a single dribble, didn’t help Cucurella defensively and was poor with his shooting. A frustrating night.
Kylian Mbappé: 7. He lacked his usual precision, finishing with seven shots, three on target and a goal. Still scored a crucial equalizer in the second half, hit the crossbar and remained heavily involved despite the chances he missed.
Fede Valverde: 8.5. Alongside Bellingham, Real Madrid’s best player of the evening. Dominant in transition after coming off the bench and scoring a superb winner. Produced a game-high three key passes despite only playing 24 minutes.
Endrick: 8. Full of life off the bench. He sent Mbappé on a breakaway and made a superb run to win the corner just before Valverde’s goal.
Brahim Diaz: 7. Provided the assist for Valverde’s winner.
Alvaro Carreras: 6.5. Solid in possession as Real Madrid closed out the match and made some good offensive runs.
Gn sports
