Real Madrid sailed to a 3-1 victory against Borussia Dortmund owing to a goal scored by Gareth Bale and a stunning brace from Cristiano Ronaldo
A brace from Cristiano Ronaldo helped defending champions Real Madrid secure a 3-1 win at Borussia Dortmund to maintain their 100 per cent record in the Champions League Group this season. Gareth Bale put Los Blancos ahead within the first 20 minutes with a well-taken volley, even as the side appears to be struggling in the La Liga.
Ronaldo – who had already made headlines for playing in his 150th appearance in European club competitions – doubled the lead at the start of the second half, much to the delight of the fans. He converted a brilliant cut-back from Bale, and Zinedine Zidane will be happy with the way both players linked up effortlessly.
Dortmund, the current Bundesliga leaders, reduced the deficit by one goal as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang found the back of the net. However, the effort went in vain as Ronaldo slotted in a third goal with about 10 minutes to go before the final whistle.
Real Madrid Player Ratings
Keylor Navas – 6/10
The goalkeeper looked a bit shaky initially but then he established a solid presence despite being put in a number of difficult positions. However, he did make a few mistimed rushes from his line, which luckily for him, Dortmund failed to exploit.
Dani Carvajal – 7/10
Carvajal possibly put in his best performance of the season so far. Although he missed a great first-half chance with Ronaldo waiting for the cross, the player also made a strong interception to deny Aubameyang. He was particularly strong on the right throughout the match but seemed quite tired minutes before the final whistle.
Raphael Varane – 7.5/10
Varane was an imposing presence for Real Madrid, and was probably the most influential at keeping Aubameyang at bay. In fact, last night’s game saw him continue his fine start to the season after an injury lay-off. The Frenchman also made a goal-saving tackle in the first-half.
Sergio Ramos – 8/10
While most spectators were to quick to point out how Ramos should have received a red card, Real Madrid fans appeared to be quite pleased with his performance. Barring that incident, Ramos did play well. His one-one-one defending was top-notch and his experience played a crucial role when it came to his positional sense.
Nacho – 7.5/10
Nacho is perhaps Real’s most versatile player in the present squad. Moreover, his speed is a huge asset that opposing teams end up underestimating, only to pay a huge price later. Marcelo’s absence could’ve dented Real’s chances, but Nacho has proven to be an excellent deputy.
Casemiro – 7/10
Casemiro did struggle more than usual in the first few minutes of the match. Understandably, he seemed a bit dazed due to Dortmund’s pace early on but gradually made his presence felt. He extensively provided cover and shielded the defensive line while also putting in a number of passes.
Luka Modric – 9/10
Modric was arguably the best player on the field for Real Madrid last night. He was positioned wider than usual on the right but his brilliance was out there for all to see. Borussia Dortmund’s midfielders simply could not get close to him as he moved the ball around greatly to neutralize the home side’s pacey energy.
Toni Kroos – 9/10
The midfield played a significant role in limiting Dortmund. Besides Modric, Kroos was also quite influential on the field. Despite being booed by the home crowd for his Bayern connection, Kroos kept his head in the game and focused on making intelligent passes and retaining control of momentum.
Isco – 6.5/10
Isco’s work-rate was certainly high but he seemed tactically undisciplined last night. Clearly, Zidane deployed him to defend the left but it wasn’t a game built for his particular skill-set, especially with Modric playing behind him. His freedom was a lot restricted and that seemed to hamper his over-all game.
Gareth Bale – 9/10
Bale was the perfect example last night for the saying ‘actions speak louder than words’. He silenced his critics in style as he rifled a volley to open Real’s scoring tally. His assist to Ronaldo was vital as well since his movement was just ideal for the ball to go through. Moreover, Bale worked hard to cause troubles for the the Dortmund backline.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 8/10
While some argued as to whether or not his goal was offside, Ronaldo was the name on the lips of every Real Madrid fan. He played his natural fiery game and looked to break through Dortmund’s line at all times. His brace was truly stunning, which only went to show that his killer instinct is not dying down anytime soon.
Subs
Asensio – 5.5/10 (Isco ’76)
Lucas Vazquez – 5/10 (Bale ’85)
Ceballos N/A (Modric ’91)
