Player Ratings: Valencia 1 - Real Madrid 3; 2020 Spanish Super Cup

The Spanish super cup semi-final took place in Saudi Arabia with Zidane tinkering with the line up. Five of the team’s six midfielders started the match - Isco, Kroos, Modric, Valverde, and Casemiro. The tinkering paid off with Madrid playing with total control all game long. Valencia rarely threatened. Isco was superb, Kroos scores from a corner, and Modric managed to score with the outside of his boot. It was a stroll for Madrid and they now can turn their attentions to the final. Full match ratings below:

Thibaut Courtois—7: Valencia didn’t provide any threat in the attack and barely put any shots on Courtois goal. The Belgian did do week to come off his line and intercept crosses as well as distribute quickly.

Dani Carvajal—7: Gaya and Soler offered nothing against Dani, he was a presence both offensively and defensively.

Raphael Varane—8: Unlucky not to score early in the first half after connecting with a Casemiro cross. Nullified Gamiero and proved once again how strong he is when in possession of the ball.

Sergio Ramos—8: Marshaled the backline expertly. Had a couple of crucial tackles on Ferran Torres. At 33-years-old, showing no signs of decline.

Ferland Mendy—6.5: Locked down Madrid’s left side defensively and put in a lot of effort physically to be a wide option in the attack.

Casemiro—6: Didn’t have as much to do in tonight’s match due to Madrid’s total control. Valencia tried to find opportunities on the counter in the second half, but Casemiro was there to sweep everything up.

Luka Modric—8: Lovely outside of the boot finish to kill the game and score Madrid’s third.

Toni Kroos—8.5: Pulled off an “Olimpico”, scoring off a corner while Valencia were sleeping. A cheeky yet brilliant goal.

Fede Valverde—7: What defines Fede Valverde? Making an 80 yard defensive sprint in the 75th minute to deny a counter attack while the team was up 3-0. As always, he was a positive presence in midfield.

Isco—9: Cool and calm to volley home his goal from just a few inches off the penalty spot. Isco was pure magic all night long. This performance brought shades of midfielder’s form in the spring of 2017.

Luka Jovic—4: Sadly, the Serbian missed a sitter in the last few minutes of the first half after Isco’s header from a corner hit the post and bobbled back to Jovic just a few yards from goal. Nothing seemed to click for the striker all night long.

Substitutions:

Marcelo—5: Brought in for the final 30 minutes to gain some fitness and match rhythm after his injury.

James Rodriguez—5 Similar to Marcelo, was brought in to get some match rhythm and fitness, while maintaining Madrid’s shape and numerical superiority in midfield.

Mariano—6.5: Played the last 10 minutes of the match and played with so much hunger and desire to make an impact and score.