Player ratings: Sporting Gijón 0 - 0 Real Madrid

Keylor Navas: 6. Solid game from the Costa Rican keeper, who didn't have much to do but showed some good aerial skills when Sporting Gijón tried to create dangerous opportunities through corner-kicks and crosses.

Danilo: 7. The Brazilian player emerged after a somewhat mediocre pre-season. His physicality and defensive awareness helped Real Madrid and if he can keep up with this performance Carvajal will have a tough time recovering his spot as a starter.

Varane: 8. Excellent display from the young defender. Varane did everything right and he proved he's ready to be a starter. Will Benítez bench the veteran Pepe to give Varane the minutes he deserves?

Ramos: 6. His defense was good enough but his distribution was off. Ramos turned the ball over quite often in dangerous positions that could've cost his team. He fought all game long with Sporting's strikers and was able to contain them.

Marcelo: 4. Terrible game by the left-back. He tried hard but couldn't contribute offensively as he is expected to. This was a rare display from the Brazilian as he will surely improve from this performance.

Kroos: 5. Kroos was never in charge of the tempo of the game. The German should have slowed the match down with his passing skills but Sporting and Real Madrid were trying to launch counterattack after counterattack instead.

Modric: 7. The Croatian dismantled Sporting's pressing with ease and was arguably Real Madrid's best man apart from Varane. Had he had support from Kroos, Real Madrid would have controlled the game much better.

Isco: 5. Decent game from the Spanish playmaker, who got a surprising start instead of James. He tried to dribble too much and Sporting knew that they had to foul him to prevent Madrid from having good chances off Isco's boots.

Bale: 6. Bale wasn't brilliant but he was comfortable playing behind the striker. he had two very good chances to score but his accuracy was a bit off. The Welsh needs to use this game to build some momentum and confidence-

Cristiano Ronaldo: 5. His first half was really poor and he improved from that. Still, he should have scored off one James' cross that landed right on his head.

Jesé. 5. Jesé had a chance to prove he is ready to replace Karim Benzema and offered a disappointing game. It would be unfair to make him the scapegoat as he still needs to grow and mature as a player.

James: 5. The Colombian entered the game during the secold half trying to win the three points for his team but he didn't create many good opportunities other than a brilliant cross to Ronaldo.

Kovacic: 5. Kovacic replaced Isco and didn't have big impact on the game. He has barely completed three or four training sessions with the squad and he lacked the chemistry needed to play alongside his new teammates.

Carvajal: 5. His battle with Danilo for a starting spot will be very interesting to watch but Benítez might choose the Brazilian because of his size and strength.