“A regal display from City’s king playmaker” – Full player ratings as Man City dump Real Madrid out of the Champions League
In a bold night of football, Manchester City beat Real Madrid 2-1 at an empty Etihad in the Champions League.
The result was Zinedine Zidane’s first-ever defeat in a Champions League knockout tie as manager (and assistant manager) and sees Pep Guardiola’s men head into a quarter-final tie against Lyon.
Here’s how the players rated at the Etihad Stadium:
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Manchester City
Ederson – 6 – Saved well when he had to.
Kyle Walker – 7 – Great attacking runs, defended well.
Fernandinho – 7 – A confident display at the back. Marshalled Madrid’s forwards so well.
Aymeric Laporte – 7 – Poor defending for Madrid’s goal ruined an otherwise quality night from City’s colossus.
Joao Cancelo – 6 – Some incessantly bright attacking play but woeful defending for Madrid’s opener.
Rodrigo – 8 – Screened his defence superbly and imposed himself well on the Madrid midfield. A massive pass forward led to City’s winner.
Ilkay Gundogan – 8 – Lovely interplay all night long, but ruined a great chance to score with a poor pass to Sterling.
Kevin De Bruyne – 9 – A regal display from Man City’s king playmaker. Madrid couldn’t lay a finger on him all night long as he was constantly moving the ball into dangerous areas and keeping his side on the front-foot. Everything good City did ran through him as he held court over the Etihad. Kept trying to score from corners.
Kevin De Bruyne created nine chances for Man City against Real Madrid, the most any player has created against Real in a single #UCL match across the past four seasons.
On another level. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/6ZND2hJ21E
— Squawka (@Squawka) August 7, 2020
Raheem Sterling – 8 – Scored the opening goal and tortured the Madrid defence with his pressing and movement. Could have scored a second when played in. Moved to the left second-half and looked a true danger every time he touched the ball.
Phil Foden – 6 – An incredibly bright performance full of pressing and movement. He excelled at false nine but was a bit quieter in the second-half. Subbed off with 23 to play.
Gabriel Jesus – 8 – As in the first-leg the Brazilian worked his socks off on the left in the first-half, then changed to centre-forward at the interval and bagged a crucial goal. This time it was a stupendously deft finish to that crucified Madrid.
Substitutes:
Bernardo Silva (for Foden 67′) – 6 – Instantly added a ferocious cutting edge to City. Wasted a few good chances.
David Silva (for Sterling 81′) – 5 – An emotional final appearance at the Etihad
Nico Otamendi (for Rodrygo 89′) – n/a – Came on late.
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Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois – 5 – Some supreme saves when called on but ropey with the ball at his feet. Questionable decision-making for City’s winner but really had no protection from his defence.
Dani Carvajal – 5 – Handled Jesus well but got cooked by Sterling in the second-half. Covered supremely on occasion.
Raphael Varane – 2 – Awful mistake early on, got pressed into giving the ball away for City’s opener. Then another awful mistake handed City their winner. Then a third awful mistake almost led to a third City goal. Looked all at sea without Ramos guiding him.
The last three players to make 2+ errors leading to goals in a single #UCL match:
❍ Loris Karius (vs. Real Madrid)
❍ Aymeric Laporte (vs. Spurs)
❍ Raphael Varane (vs. Man City)An unfortunate trio. pic.twitter.com/YmehJJfLO4
— Squawka (@Squawka) August 7, 2020
Eder Militao – 6 – Had some hairy moments in possession but defended well.
Ferland Mendy – 6 – Defended his flank well but couldn’t offer anything in attack.
Casemiro – 6 – Covered for his midfield partners well but as with all his team-mates was sloppy in possession. Got nowhere near De Bruyne all night long.
Luka Modric – 4 – Couldn’t control the game or even have an influence. Very much looked his age.
Toni Kroos – 4 – Was overwhelmed defensively. Did surprisingly little with the ball.
Zinedine Zidane has been eliminated from the Champions League for the first time in his managerial career. 🥚💥 pic.twitter.com/CChsJxmFUJ
— Squawka (@Squawka) August 7, 2020
Rodrygo – 6 – A largely quiet night for the young Brazilian, though he did have a couple of lovely runs – including a sublime assist for Madrid’s equaliser. Subbed off early.
Eden Hazard – 4 – A nice pass for Benzema in the first-half was all you’d have to know he was on the pitch. Depressingly anonymous.
Karim Benzema – 7 – Looked a threat every time he touched the ball in the final third (he just didn’t get to do that often enough). Still, he pulled off a spectacular header to equalise for Real Madrid.
Substitutes:
Marco Asensio (for Rodrygo 61′) – 5 – Added some drive but couldn’t impact the game.
Lucas Vázquez (for Carvajal 83′) – n/a – Came on late.
Fede Valverde (for Modric 83′) – n/a – Came on late.
Luka Jovic (for Hazard 83′) – n/a – Came on late.
