Player ratings: Real Madrid Femenino 2 - 1 Valencia

Real Madrid Femenino managed their second league win of the season after eight games and added three points to their tally against 15th-placed Valencia. Esther Gonzalez scored a brace with the help of two assists from Claudia Zornoza in a game where Madrid were missing key players Ivana Andrés, Misa, and Athenea del Castillo due to COVID protocols. Las Blancas failed to close the game well and the structural issues still persisted, but they will be happy to have gotten the victory.

Here are the player ratings from the game.

Starting XI

GK: Méline Gérard — 6/10

Méline Gérard had a routine game, she wasn’t tested a lot and when she was the shots were tame and straightforward. She did well to initially put a hand to a long-range effort and followed it up with a great point blank save before Valencia’s goal. Her distribution wasn’t great.

LWB: Olga Carmona — 6/10

Olga looked threatening going forwards. She took on players and beat them but the final ball was lacking. She also appeared at the far post as an option in the box for crosses from the other flank.

LCB: Babett Peter — 7/10

Babett was really solid in her defensive duels and had a chance to score in the dying minutes of the game. On the ball it was an okay performance from her, often carrying forwards, although her distribution could have been better.

CB: Rocío Gálvez — 7/10

Rocío filled in as the middle CB in the back three and she did quite well, closing down the opposition quickly and reading and intercepting play admirably.

RCB: Lucía Rodríguez — 7/10

Lucia was asked to fill in at RCB and did an okay job. She did have the freedom to bomb forward with the ball at her feet and Valencia being poor allowed her the necessary room to do so.

RWB: Kenti Robles — 6.5/10

It wasn’t the best of games from Kenti as she failed to have an impact bar a couple of crosses. She had a shot following a free-kick from the edge of the box but it was pretty simple for the goalkeeper. Kenti made a key run into the area in the second half but her shot was blocked.

CM: Maite Oroz — 7.5/10

Maite’s return was a big boost for Real Madrid, who looked slightly better in controlling and dominating possession with her on the field. Her presence on the defensive end of things was good as well, as she closed down the opposition and won second balls. She also displayed her ability in the final third, creating a couple of opportunities. However, her impressive outing was blemished slightly by a cheap giveaway near Madrid’s own box.

CM: Claudia Zornoza — 8/10

Zornoza’s line-breaking and set-piece prowess were on display in the game yesterday. She played a brilliant, incisive ball for Esther on the first goal and then delivered a looping pass for Madrid’s second. There were some sloppy passes and a couple of fouls in her display as well.

CAM: Lorena Navarro — 6.5/10

Lorena didn’t have the best of games on the ball but made an impact with her good positioning and off-ball movements, which opened up passing lanes and enabled others to receive. She had a fair few mishit passes.

CF: Nahikari García — 7/10

Nahikari had a decent game but at times tried to do a little too much and didn’t release the ball quickly enough. She also worked well in tandem with Esther, occupying the defense when Esther dropped off. There were moments when both strikers crowded the same zone.

CF: Esther Gonzalez — 8.5/10

Esther scored her first two goals for Real Madrid on a rainy evening in Madrid. The second striker was the pick of the bunch, which saw her beautifully control the looping ball from Zornoza & turn to score a thumping finish. She occupied the backline and looked good while dropping off as well.

Substitutes

CM: Teresa Abelleira — 7/10 (replaced Lorena; 62’)

Teresa made her return and her second appearance this season. She came on and brought in a degree of control in possession. Her passing was crisp but there were some rusty touches sprinkled into her performance. Teresa pressed well from the front.

RCB: Claudia Florentino — 7/10 (replaced Kenti; 74’)

Claudia was brought on to bring in some defensive stability after the visitors equalized and things had turned into an end-to-end affair. Her first action after coming on was a good interception to stop the opposition attack. She stopped a dangerous break a few minutes later.

LWB: Marta Corredera — N/A (replaced Nahikari; 83’)

Corredera had a couple of good touches once coming on for Olga. She was dragged wide for a big chance towards the very end of the game.

CF: Caroline Møller Hansen — N/A (replaced Olga; 83’)

Møller made a couple of runs into the box but nothing that was of significance.