“He can still be a game-defining presence” – Full player ratings as Real Madrid beat Atlético 1-0 in the derby

In a low-quality afternoon of football, Real Madrid squeaked by Atlético in the Madrid derby with a 1-0 win.

The game saw Diego Simeone’s tactics force a dramatic half-time change from Zinedine Zidane, and then when that worked a treat the Argentine couldn’t respond and the game sort of petered out.

Here’s how the players rated at the Santiago Bernabeu:

Real Madrid

Thibaut Courtois – 7 – A series of solid saves whenever he was called upon.

Dani Carvajal – 6 – Looked very much like a player still feeling his way back to full fitness. Luckily for him Atleti couldn’t make the most of any of the raids down his flank.

Raphael Varane – 8 – Enormous. Rebuffed every single thing Atleti tried to create.

Sergio Ramos – 8 – Superb. Had a bit of trouble when being run at directly but was magnificent in the air and led from the back superbly.

1 – Luka Modrić ha sido el único jugador con un 100% de pases acertados en este primer tiempo del #RealMadridAtleti (30/30) y el único del conjunto blanco que ha rematado a portería. Motor. pic.twitter.com/1aMguDexcP

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 1, 2020

Ferland Mendy – 8 – Some brilliant defensive covering but as always remains vulnerable positionally. However in attack he finally notched an assist with a devilish cross for the game-winning goal.

Casemiro – 6 – Completely baffled in the first-half as Atleti out-foxed him. Should have given away a penalty for literally dive-bombing into Morata’s legs. Wasn’t as bad second-half, but nowhere near his recent levels.

Fede Valverde – 7 – Kept very quiet by Atleti’s intelligent play first-half, but after Madrid’s formation shift he came to life and was once again a rampaging force up and down the field.

Toni Kroos – 5 – Was playing fairly well, keeping Madrid in rhythm without really pushing the tempo. Subbed at half-time.

Luka Modric – 7 – Didn’t give the ball away in the first-half, barely did so in the second. A delight to watch.

Karim Benzema has scored in the Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu for the first time.

It took him 16 attempts. 😱 pic.twitter.com/k5Zlgsq6OY

— Squawka (@Squawka) February 1, 2020

Isco – 4 – Couldn’t get into the game at all. Subbed at half-time.

Karim Benzema – 7 – Completely kept out of the game for 55 minutes but was in the right place to tap home Mendy’s cross early in the second-half, winning his side the game.

Substitutes:

Lucas Vázquez (for Isco 46′) – 6 – Came on at half-time. Worked hard.

Vinicius Jr. (for Kroos 46′) – 7 – Came on at half-time, set the game alight with a lovely pre-assist for the opener, sending Ferland Mendy racing through out wide. Ripped Atleti’s defence with some runs but never really tested Oblak enough. Has had a difficult season but showed here why he can still be a game-defining presence with his pace and dribbling.

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Atlético Madrid

Jan Oblak – 5 – Handled what he had to do well. Could have done little about the goal.

Sime Vrsaljko – 5 – Worked hard and got involved but ultimately did little.

Stefan Savic – 6 – Sharp enough at the back but failed to close out on Mendy quickly enough for Madrid’s goal.

Felipe – 6 – A solid display that saw him rebuff several Madrid attacks (5 clearances was a team high) but he completely lost track of Karim Benzema for the Frenchman’s goal. Lucky to avoid a second yellow for a late tackle in the second-half.

Renan Lodi – 7 – Tackled superbly well as he combated Madrid’s forward raids down his flank. His 6 tackles were a game-high.

Marcos Llorente – 7 – Played well against his old side, doggedly defending the middle of the pitch to force Los Blancos to change shape.

Thomas Partey – 7 – For an hour he was phenomenal. Seems to reserve his best for Los Blancos. Completely let down by his team-mates as none of them were anywhere close to his level. However he obviously tired in the second period and was subbed off as Atleti chased it.

Vitolo – 6 – Worked constantly in the first-half, always getting involved. However he should have done better with Atleti’s best chance but shot right at Courtois. Completely anonymous in the second-half and then subbed off.

Saúl – 7 – Battled well in the middle and broke superbly on many occasions but just couldn’t find the right pass/shot to cap his runs forward.

Angel Correa – 5 – Utterly anonymous as an attacking force, showing none of the verve he is capable of.

Alvaro Morata – 6 – A constant thorn in the side of the Madrid defence. Repeatedly fouled but rarely given protection, including when Casemiro knocked him down for what should have been a penalty. Was taken off just five minutes into the second-half as he picked up a slight injury and Diego Simeone wanted to take no risks.

Substitutes:

Thomas Lemar (for Morata 50′) – 4 – Failed to keep a lid on Mendy in the lead-up to Madrid’s opener. Offered next to nothing going forward. A bizarrely ineffective signing.

Yannick Carrasco (for Vitolo 71′) – 5 – A couple of delicious dribbles but couldn’t quite get any end product.

Sergio Camello (for Thomas 74′) – n/a – Had little impact.