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Real Madrid lost three points in a very disappointing match. Girona, who have been this season's revelation, put up a great fight and ended up with a deserved victory. Real Madrid were poor on all fronts and it's starting to be very worrying.
There is no longer the sense that we can turn things around in the dying minutes of the match and the players are very far away from their usual level. Things need to change and quickly, if Real Madrid still want to be in the title race.
#RMLiga
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) October 29, 2017
¡Once inicial del #RealMadrid frente al @GironaFC!#RMMovistar pic.twitter.com/vToYkFabmn
Player Ratings
Kiko Casilla — 7: A Decent performance from our back up goalkeeper. He wasn't at fault for any of the conceded goals. The entire blame rests with his teammates.
Achraf Hakimi — 6: It wasn't a spectacular performance from the Moroccan youngster. He was okay-ish defensively, but he failed to make a meaningful impact on the attacking front.
Raphael Varane — 8: He was our hero in the first half. Today, he made his 250th appearance in Real Madrid shirt and boy, it was some display. He single-handedly kept us in the game with his last-minute tackles. He was rock solid. Sadly, he had to be taken off at half-time due to injury.
Sergio Ramos— 5.5: It was a game to forget for Real Madrid's captain. Sergio commits so many preventable mistakes and seemed to be unsettled by Girona's pressing (much like his teammates). He wasn't positionally sound either and Varane and Nacho had to constantly bail him out.
Marcelo — 5.5: Marcelo was a shadow of himself. He wasn't the usual glistering spark which ignites Real Madrid's attack. He was wasteful in the attack and lacked precision to create chances.
Casemiro— 6: Casemiro returned along with Kroos to the starting lineup, but I guess he wished he didn't. While he wasn't as blatantly bad as other defenders, he wasn't shining either. Our compactness was off the whole game and Girona cut through us like butter.
Toni Kroos — 6: An unspectacular game for the German midfielder. While he tried to gain control of the match, he didn't succeed and he was eventually overrun by Girona's midfielders.
Luka Modric — 6: It wasn't Luka's game at all. His passes weren't crisp and his spark wasn't there. He is human after all.
Isco — 8: The second bright spark of this game. Isco was the only attacking player who seems to be playing close to their best level. He was in the right place and time to score the opening goal and he was the key for playing through Girona's pressing.
Cristiano Ronaldo — 6: Ronaldo had a subpar game (and also start to the season). He isn't delivering the numbers we expected. Is it down to bad service or is he going through a slump? Real Madrid now need Ronaldo at his best to power us through this bad patch of form.
Karim Benzema — 6: Karim had his moments like on the opening goal, but he also went invisible in larger parts of the game, and completely disappeared at the end of the match, because Real Madrid's desperate crossing frenzy isn't his best forte. And also Girona clogged the penalty box excellently.
Substitutes
Marco Asensio - 6: Marco failed to make any sort of an impact on the game, which is probably down to Zidane putting him as a left wing-back.
Lucas Vazquez — 6: Lucas came on with Asensio and was slotted at the right side of the midfield. His only notable moment was his offside goal.
Man of the Match: Isco
I miss Bale.