Player Ratings: Real Madrid 3-0 Galatasaray

Goal.com was on hand to cast a critical eye over events at Santiago Bernabeu, where the hosts never relinquished control and secured a three-goal win to take into the second leg

By Keeghann Sinanan

Real Madrid

3.42

74

6

• 
  99

  2

  Diego López Rodríguez

  Made a slightly unorthodox save from a Didier Drogba piledriver, but was generally assured between the posts.
• 
  125

  9

  Raphaël Varane

  The power of Didier Drogba was a bit of a shock for him early on, and he was shrugged off with ease by the Ivorian forward during an early Galatasaray chance. However, he soon stepped up his performance remarkably after shaking off the early nerves, and made a few key last-ditch defensive plays to maintain his side’s advantage.
• 
  66

  16

  Sergio Ramos

  During one first-half sequence, he was beaten too easily by Didier Drogba, but it was a rare hiccup in what was usually a secure performance from the central defender, though he was not often tested in the second half.
• 
  66

  11

  Fabio Coentrao

  An excellent challenge right at the far post denied Emmanuel Eboue a dangerous cutback following a rampaging run. That summed up his evening rather well, as the Portuguese full-back was very attentive to his defensive duties.
• 
  74

  12

  Sami Khedira

  Provided good support in both halves of the field. He took care of loose ends at the back, and made himself available as a safe passing option for the attack. His contributions may not have been noticed often, but there is no doubt that they benefited his team.
• 
  132

  8

  Mesut Özil

  Played with a spring in his step right from the first whistle. With nine minutes on the clock, he released Cristiano Ronaldo to score the opener with a perfect through pass, and came close himself with a quick shot from the edge of the box that was held by Fernando Muslera. Ran rings around his would-be marker Felipe Melo all game long.
• 
  88

  8

  Xabi Alonso

  As usual, his discipline and vision was an effective cog in the Madrid counter-attacking machine. He positioned himself well to help out his back four, and his accurate passing upfield helped his side break forward quickly. Provided Gonzalo Higuain with the third from a free-kick.
• 
  105

  8

  Michael Essien

  Handed a start over incumbent Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back, and the Ghanaian made sure that his coach’s choice was justified. He got forward well, and one inch-perfect cross around the half-hour mark picked out Karim Benzema, who duly made it 2-0.
• 
  65

  19

  Ángel Di María

  A tad more passive than the dynamic duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil, but the winger still did what he had to do to help his team win. He kept possession well, and was always aware of his teammates in better positions.
• 
  172

  21

  Cristiano Ronaldo Top of the Match

  The Portuguese star got the ball rolling early in the game when his delightful lob sent Madrid into the lead. As ever, his control of the ball at full speed was a nightmare for the opposition defence, and he was inches off target with a free-kick towards the end of the first half.
• 
  97

  9

  Karim Benzema

  Chosen ahead of Gonzalo Higuain to lead the line, and he did just that to good effect. Linked up well with the trident of attacking midfielders roaming behind him, and with half an hour gone, a sublime piece of control from Michael Essien’s cross allowed him to tap home the second goal for his side.

Substitutions

• 
  82

  5

  Gonzalo Higuaín

  Clinical off the bench once again, as he nodded home his side's third from Xabi Alonso's free kick.

Galatasaray

2.42

7

13

• 
  19

  13

  Néstor Muslera Micol

  Made a smart stop on Mesut Ozil's low drive, and can accept no blame for any of the goals conceded by his side.
• 
  5

  21

  Dany Nounkeu

  At times, he seemed overwhelmed by the pace and movement of Madrid on the counter attack. That often manifested itself in frustration, and he picked up a yellow card for bringing down Karim Benzema that rules him out of the second leg in Turkey.
• 
  5

  19

  Semih Kaya

  Slightly more assured than his defensive partner Dany Nonkeu, but once Madrid were in full flow, he could do little to stop them. Beaten more than once.
• 
  10

  23

  Emmanuel Eboue

  Tried often to help his team when going forward. But the flip side to that was the complete lack of focus on his defensive positioning, which opened up many avenues for Madrid out wide. Out of position for Cristiano Ronaldo’s first, and inexplicably ducked out of the way to allow Karim Benzema to score the second.
• 
  9

  15

  Hamit Altintop

  Had one or two decent bursts forward during the first half to drive his team into the opposition half. But those encouraging moments were more an aberration rather than the norm, and he spent large spells on the periphery of the game.
• 
  8

  15

  Selçuk İnan

  He worked very hard in the centre of the park to close down the space in front of his defence, but sometimes, the quality of the opposition attack left him huffing and puffing after the ball in vain.
• 
  6

  21

  Felipe Melo

  Made to chase shadows for the majority of the game by the lively play of Mesut Ozil. The Brazilian failed to anchor the midfield in any kind of convincing fashion, as Madrid found a lot of joy in his central zone just outside the box.
• 
  8

  13

  Albert Riera

  Showed no initiative to close down Michael Essien, even when it became obvious that the Ghanaian was squaring up for a cross. And as a result, he supplied the assist for Madrid’s second goal in the first half.
• 
  10

  49

  Wesley Sneijder Flop of the Match

  The Dutch midfielder was barely a factor throughout the game, and could not inspire his team with any noticeable displays of his creativity. A very disappointing outing for him against one of his former clubs, and he did not last beyond the break.
• 
  75

  12

  Didier Drogba

  The brightest spark for Galatasaray throughout. A swift and powerful turn freed him from Raphael Varane for a shot, which he missed, and not long after, he called Diego Lopez into action with a swerving drive. Never stopped trying to make things happen.
• 
  13

  22

  Burak Yılmaz

  Fluffed his lines with one first half chance after being set up by Didier Drogba, but he generally found quality service hard to come by, and as a result, struggled to make his mark on the game.

Substitutions

• 
  4

  15

  Gökhan Zan

  Added little to his team's fortunes after replacing Wesley Sneijder at half time.