Courtois: As little as they demand of him, he responds. He sent a shot from Zarraga to a corner after 10 minutes, when Madrid was still settled in the match and then saved the first shot in the play in which Iñaki Williams had Guruzeta’s offside goal disallowed. Second clean sheet in this League.
Nacho: Ancelotti’s most pessimistic defender. He spared no effort and projected himself in attack, generating danger and allowing Asensio to play inside. He won three of the five duels he played.
Military: The best of defense. Good in anticipation, in the passing game and at the crossroads, with a crucial cut in the first half to stop Nico Williams in Athletic’s transition. Well in anticipation. Good with Nico Williams to stop a transition from Athletic. Almost invincible: he won five of the six duels he was involved in.
Ruediger: From less to more in the game. Some of his mistakes when he released the ball almost gave Real Madrid a scare in the first half.
Mendy: Nico Williams put him in a lot of trouble and it was difficult for him to find Rüdiger’s help in the task of stopping the Athletic attacker.
Valverde: Still far from the Falcon that marveled before the World Cup break. He tried a shot from distance, but he still hasn’t honed the aim he displayed at the start of the season.
Camavinga: Without Kroos, he became a pivot and showed off his virtues much more, much less nervous than in other games in which he plays more advanced. Along with Nacho, he was the Madrid player who cleared the most balls (six). He did not cut himself in the duels: he went to fifteen and won eight. He took his yellow card every day… in a foul that was not worthy of a card.
Ceballos: He agreed with Ancelotti, who after his key performance in Vila-real gave the Utrerano his fourth start of the season. He was the compass of Madrid: the player who intervened the most in the game and was insistent on the openings to the right before the appearances of Nacho. He had a 93% success rate in passes, but he made the difficult easy: his eight long passes found their recipient. Substituted by Kroos at 85′.
Asensio: Rennet match of the Balearic Islands, without much presence in attack but with an irreproachable defense commitment. He did not shy away from any dispute and an aerial duel that he won in the area left Benzema on a tray with the goal that opened the scoring. Substituted by Modric at 73′.
Benzema: In San Mamés you feel like you are in your own backyard. He was inaccurate in several controls. Of course, he will not be remembered as one of his best matches, but after the World Cup he has recovered his nose for the rival goal. He has scored six goals in the six games he has played since the competition resumed.
Vinicius: He does not give up. He insists and insists, but he did not find a way to hurt Athletic’s defense. Substituted by Rodrygo at 83′.
Modric: He replaced Asensio at 73′. He gave her little time.
Rodrigo: He replaced Vinicius at 83′. He once again displayed his fame as a revulsion: he gave the assist to Kroos in the final 0-2. Not much more can be done in such a short time.
Kroos: He replaced Ceballos at 85′. Ancelotti rested the German, who in his few minutes on the field scored the second goal. Second target in this League for the 8 white.
