Player Ratings: Elche 2–3 Real Madrid
Thibaut Courtois: 6.5.
Only had to make one save, and neither of the goals conceded was his fault.Trent Alexander-Arnold: 6.5. A defensive liability at times, and he failed to stop the cross for Elche’s first goal. But he also offered plenty in possession, particularly in the first half, moving centrally and helping pull the strings in the right half-space. Good offensively, bad defensively. Sounds about right for Trent.
Ibrahima Konaté: 7. Strong in the air and
the primary outlet when Real Madrid were building from the back.
Dean Huijsen: 7.5. Mostly good. Hard to blame him for either goal, and his distribution and willingness to play vertically were both needed.
Marc Cucurella: 6.5. Had a very good game until a costly mistake led to Elche’s second goal. Provided useful overloads and created space for Vinícius.
Fede Valverde: 7.5. Played two excellent through balls and kept possession well. One of those passes, to Yan Diomande, helped create Real Madrid’s first goal.
Aurélien Tchouaméni: 8. Terrific pressing and an excellent reading of passing lanes. Two of his challenges led to big chances that Vinícius missed, and he also contributed some lovely long-range switches of play.
Yan Diomande: 8. A difficult performance to grade. There were lapses, including poor tracking on Elche’s second goal and some rash defensive lunges, but his relentless verticality and ability to break lines were hugely encouraging. Assisted Kylian Mbappé in the first half and worked himself into the ground defensively.
Arda Güler: 8. Again, deserved at least one assist. Played gorgeous through balls and set up Vinícius twice. Real Madrid lost considerable control after he left the field.
Vinícius Júnior: 3. Lost the ball nine times, failed to complete a single dribble, and missed three chances, including two big ones.
Kylian Mbappé: 8.5. One goal, one assist, three key passes. Vital.
Substitutes
Jude Bellingham: 8. Created the winner out of nothing. Beat his man down the wing, carried the ball forward, and played a perfectly weighted through ball to Mbappé.
Brahim Díaz: 6.5. Limited involvement, with just 13 touches off the bench on the right wing. Most of Madrid’s play went through Diomande on the left.
Carlos Espí: 8. Scored the winner. Enough said.
Endrick: N/A.
Denzel Dumfries: N/A.
