Last Updated: 14th February 2013
Real Madrid
DIEGO LOPEZ
ONLY on the pitch because the great Iker Casillas is injured.
His second-half super-save to deny Van Persie by pushing the ball on to post was only bettered when he denied the Dutchman again with a breathtaking stop near the end.
Rating: 8
ALVARO ARBELOA
HAS emerged as one of Mourinho’s most trusted lieutenants. He keeps the shape well and did a good job of tracking the runs of Kagawa and Evra for most of the night.
Didn’t run on the overlap very often but was dangerous when he did.
Rating: 6
SERGIO RAMOS
ONE of the fastest men in the game, lethal at set-pieces and ruthless in the tackle.
But seemed to get away with an elbow in face of Jones and was stunned by Welbeck for United’s goal. Didn’t get involved offensively.
Rating: 6
RAPHAEL VARANE
TOOK place of Mourinho’s dog-of-war Pepe, who is still not fully fit after an ankle operation.
Showed maturity and class at just 19. Tracked Van Persie’s runs and the long-searching balls of Rooney and denied Welbeck a few times.
Rating: 7
FABIO COENTRAO
THE stand-in full-back struck the post early on with a wonderful cross-shot.
Didn’t have to do much defensively in the first half as Rafael rarely surged forward.
After the break, he forced De Gea into another great save.
Rating: 7
XABI ALONSO
DICTATED the pace with his unique range of passing.
Was at the start of many Real chances and a 60-yard pass to Ronaldo was worth the entrance fee alone. Not fully fit with back pain and eventually subbed.
Rating: 7
SAMI KHEDIRA
HAD first shot of the match after two minutes — but it went wide.
A secure presence in midfield and made ghost runs into the box that confused United’s defenders.
Saw a second-half blast brilliantly saved by De Gea.
Rating: 7
MESUT OZIL
HIS corners were always a threat but the German did not get as much of the ball as normal in open play.
Beat the offside trap after 38 minutes but De Gea saved well.
Always involved in neat exchanges and highly dangerous.
Rating: 7
CRISTIANO RONALDO
THERE was a surge of electricity every time he got the ball.
Gave Rafael hell and put Real level with a magnificent header.
Hit a late 40-yard free-kick inches over. All in all, United coped well as he did not score again.
Rating: 7
ANGEL DI MARIA
A MASSIVE menace. World-class cross for Ronaldo to head the leveller.
Had a decent first-half penalty claim when Jones pushed him.
Forced a good save from De Gea in the second half, while another effort flew just wide.
Rating: 7
KARIM BENZEMA
FULL of energy but, at times, hesitated to pull the trigger and that allowed United to regroup.
But he didn’t really get on the end of any of Real’s chances and couldn’t find a clear shot when Rafael slipped. Subbed on the hour.
Rating: 5
SUBSTITUTES
GONZALO HIGUAIN (Benzema 60): Posed little threat. 5
LUKA MODRIC (Di Maria 75): On too late to make an impact. 5
PEPE (above, Alonso 84): Added steel. 5
ROO 'N RON ... heavyweight forwards tussle in tight encounter in Madrid
Man Utd
DAVID DE GEA
DREAM TEAM STAR MAN. Made eight saves, four of them world class.
As an ex-Atletico man, he was jeered from the off but he twice denied Coentrao — tipping a shot on to a post and using his feet fantastically well. He also made a superb save from Khedira.
Rating: 8
RAFAEL
HAD the unenviable task of marking Ronaldo.
Overawed at the start and made a couple of mistakes but they did not prove costly.
Grew in stature in the second half as Ronaldo switched sides. Booked.
Rating: 6
RIO FERDINAND
ANOTHER chance for the reborn defender to show Roy Hodgson he deserves an England recall.
Generally provided a reassuring presence for Alex Ferguson’s men and made a fantastic 70th-minute block to deny Ronaldo.
Rating: 8
JONNY EVANS
STARTED as Vidic was left out because Fergie is still easing him into full-time action following his long-term injury.
Had to keep track of Ozil’s runs and those of Di Maria and Ronaldo. Not an easy task. Did well but he was dragged out of position at times.
Rating: 6
PATRICE EVRA
WAS tasked with stopping speed-merchant Di Maria but could not always do so.
Lost Ronaldo for the leveller when the two Real wingers switched but his experience helped to stop the Portugal superstar after the break.
Rating: 7
MICHAEL CARRICK
DID not get much opportunity to get on the ball at the start as United struggled to keep possession.
Was there to plug holes in defence and showed maturity and poise.
Kept pace in the second half as Real revved up. One of the visitors’ best.
Rating: 8
PHIL JONES
IN a holding midfield role, he had to track Di Maria and risked a penalty after 41 minutes when he pushed the Argentinian to the ground. Luckily, ref Brych waved it away.
Early second-half header went over. Key block on Ronaldo at the death.
Rating: 7
SHINJI KAGAWA
A SURPRISE inclusion and was instantly involved in the midfield battles with Khedira — although he struggled to track his runs.
Tried to pressurise Madrid’s ball-playing defenders with mixed results. Much better in second half.
Rating: 6
DANNY WELBECK
POPPED in with the opener — beating Ramos to Rooney’s corner to nod home.
Wasted great chance after getting to Van Persie’s ball ahead of Lopez but did not find target from point-blank range.
Unlucky not to get free-kick when Varane brought him down. Grew tired.
Rating: 7
WAYNE ROONEY
HIS corner led to Welbeck’s goal. Tried to maintain his team’s shape in the first half but still got an effort in.
Ran like a maniac to help United stem the Real flow and produced a great pass to Van Persie, who hit a post. Valiant, heroic throughout. Subbed.
Rating: 7
ROBIN VAN PERSIE
EARLY booking for putting his hand into Ramos’ face but shone in the second half.
His 72nd-minute shot was tipped on to the post by Lopez and then saw Alonso clear another effort off the line. Booked.
Rating: 7
SUBSTITUTES
RYAN GIGGS (above, Kagawa 64): Wasted late chance. 5
ANTONIO VALENCIA (Welbeck 73): Busy. Booked. 5
ANDERSON (Rooney 84): Quiet. 5
RATINGS: ANTONY KASTRINAKIS
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4794190/How-the-Real-Madrid-and-Manchester-United-players-rated-in-the-big-match-in-the-Bernabeu.html#ixzz2KsXxtom3
