Full match player ratings:
Thibaut Courtois—9: Miracle man – came up wdith countless crucial saves to always keep Madrid in the game.
Lucas Vazquez—5: Had a tough time against the youthful energy of Hugo Sotelo, Hugo Alvarez, and Williot Swedberg. Was late to converge in on the goal conceded after lack of communication between he and Camavinga.
Rudiger—6: Attempted vertical passes into Vinicius and Mbappe as often as possible and solid defensively with 3 clearances.
Eder Militao—8: Crucial in the backline given his athleticism and speed. Had one tackle inside the box that denied a good goal scoring opportunity but looked to have buckled his knee. Was able to play on and completed the full 90 minutes.
Fran Garcia—6: Remains tentative and safe while on the ball but had a few important clearances inside the box defending against low driven balls.
Tchouameni—7: Acted like a third center back in possesion which helped Madrid with their “exit ball” out of the back. The new position came with it’s struggles in possesion as no one was in front of the defense to block gaps in midfield when Celta transitioned.
Edward Camavinga—6.5: Solid 60 minute cameo with Camavinga’s press and blocked pass leading to the opening Mbappe goal.
Fede Valverde—6: A surprise start given his international commitments with Uruguay in South America. Did well at blocking passing lanes with sliding tackles.
Jude Bellingham—8: Forced out in an unconventional right wing position but played well, particularly when dropping deep to help them team escape pressure and break lines. Visibly frustrated with his lack of goal production and lack of service from Vinicius and Mbappe.
Vinicius Junior—7.5: Game-winning goal with an excellent off-ball run and composed finish.
Kylian Mbappe—7: Incredible solo effort to break the dead lock after picking up the ball from Camavinga after a Celta turnover high up the pitch.
Substitutions:
Luka Modric—9: The oldest player to ever play for Real Madrid and proved why he is still a critical member of the team. The best player on the pitch after he entered the match. It was a magic pass from Modric that found Vinicius to seal the game-winner. The Croatian gave Madrid control and never stopped running and setting the tone defensively.
Rodrygo—6: In the right spots defensively but little to note in the final third.
Ferland Mendy—6: Replacement for Fran Garcia in order to shore up the defense.
Dani Ceballos—8: Excellent with his limited time on the pitch — he and Modric killed the game with control in the final minutes.
Rodrygo—6: beats your
