Of course, Real Madrid had to make it a nervy affair in the last 10 minutes, but, for the most part, they were absolutely dominant on Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu, dropping four more goals as Kylian Mbappe and the attack quietly heat up.
As Carlo Ancelotti predicted, Mbappe broke out in a big way against Sevilla, scoring a brilliant goal from range within the first few minutes of the match and then commanding the pitch with excellent movement and passing, showing a sharpness and one-on-one threat that had previously been missing.
While it wasn’t a perfect performance from Mbappe and his Real Madrid teammates, it was a far more encouraging and incisive one, and it sent a strong message after Barcelona struggled with a defeat on Saturday in a pivotal title race battle with Atletico Madrid.
Here are the player ratings from Madrid’s 4-2 win over Sevilla.
GK Thibaut Courtois
Had this been against a stronger opponent, we may be singing a very different tune about the game due to the mistakes Thibaut Courtois made. He gave the ball away in his own box with an awful pass, only recovering with the save because the Sevilla attacker shot it directly at him.
Later in the game, Courtois made another uncharacteristic blunder, getting beat at his near post by Dodi Lukebakio by failing to get his hands sorted. Although Lukebakio’s shot at the near post was hit with pace and precision, the angle was non-existent and Courtois should have been stronger to make the stop. Rating: 3.5
LB Eduardo Camavinga
Eduardo Camavinga was entrusted to start at left back against Sevilla’s biggest threat, an in-form Dodi Lukebakio, and, actually, the Belgian winger’s lone goal came after he shifted to the left side of the formation so as to avoid the battling Frenchman.
It’s wild how Camavinga continues to be Madrid’s best option at left back, which while an indictment of the mediocrity displayed by both Fran Garcia and Ferland Mendy, is honest praise of a man who had a whopping nine combined tackles and interceptions against Sevilla. Rating: 7.5
CB Antonio Rudiger
In truth, Antonio Rudiger didn’t do a whole lot in this game, but his passing was highly accurate at 96 percent, including some well-played balls over the top of the defense that sprung Real Madrid attacks. He didn’t make any defensive mistakes either, performing his duties well. Rating: 7.0
CB Aurelien Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni just isn’t a center back. He surrendered another goal today with poor positioning, turning his back on Isaac Romero in the box instead of keeping his body sideways.
There are so many positional nuances that Tchouameni lacks, and decent teams in LaLiga can take advantage by being wise to his inability to track runners or know the little tricks to avoid getting the slip from a forward.
On the ball, Tchouameni isn’t providing anywhere near the deep playmaking that Ancelotti had hoped, as Rudiger’s passing numbers were better, especially on long balls. There’s no sense in starting a converted midfielder at center back just for the passing, which isn’t even a benefit Tchouameni is providing at this stage.
Rating: 3.0
RB Lucas Vazquez
This was a splendid performance at right back from Lucas Vazquez and a statement that it is Tchouameni – not him – who is the biggest problem with the Real Madrid back line.
Vazquez had a brilliant assist to Rodrygo Goes, finding the Brazilian on the edge of the box during a counter, and he could have easily ended up with two assists. He also played a key role in creating the fourth, scored by winger Brahim Diaz.
The Galician wide man added five tackles and three clearances to two key passes, two fouls drawn, and four dribbles completed in a legitimately world-class performance at right back. Rating: 8.5
CM Fede Valverde
A typical, high-energy display from Fede Valverde, complete with an absolute banger from range for a second week in a row. Fede’s swerving shots from 30+ yards are the best in the business, and this goal against Sevilla will be played over and over again.
Beyond the goal, Fede had three key passes, three interceptions, and two tackles to provide better creative and defensive work than last week, affirming his status as one of the most complete midfielders on this planet. Rating: 8.0
CM Dani Ceballos
Although Dani Ceballos wasn’t able to contribute much to the attack, the former Real Betis man played a dogged game defensively against Sevilla with five tackles, covering for Lucas Vazquez on the right side of the defense and everywhere else, breaking up promising play in transition.
A few other midfielders in Madrid could follow Ceballos’ example. He also completed around 95 percent of his 61 pass attempts, further entrenching himself as an asset to Carlo Ancelotti who is capable of starting for this team. Rating: 7.0
AM Jude Bellingham
In the battles in midfield but there was something off about Jude Bellingham’s performance. Perhaps it was the result of a slight knock picked up a few days ago in against Pachuca, and, last season, we did see the wear-and-tear of his rambunctious playing style impact him in the second half of the season.
Whatever it was, Bellingham wasn’t poor, but he wasn’t as effective with his passing or touch in the final third, nor was he as involved as, say, Ceballos or Fede Valverde in breaking up plays defensively. Rating: 6.0
LW Rodrygo Goes
Found a wide open Kylian Mbappe for the opening goal and played a complete game at his favored left wing position. Rodrygo is one of the best all-around wingers in the world and showed it on Sunday at the Bernabeu with a goal, an assist, and positive defensive contributions, including nearly scoring a goal off a steal in the Sevilla penalty box. Rating: 7.5
CF Kylian Mbappe
Maybe Kylian Mbappe should have scored more than one goal with the chances he created for himself, but he deserves credit for both creating those chances and for scoring a ridiculous opener, smashing the ball into the postage stamp of the net from range with pure power and sharp opportunism.
Mbappe’s assist was just as good, as he won the ball and kept the play alive with world-class strength and dribbling. He then shuttled the ball to an onside Lucas Vazquez on the right flank, got himself in position on the edge of the box to receive the return pass, and then immediately flicked a gorgeous, line-breaking ball to Brahim Diaz that the young Spaniard couldn’t help but deposit into the back of the net.
The improved passing, one-on-one ability, defensive pressure, and overall unselfishness that Mbappe displayed against Sevilla were the best of what we have seen from him in a Real Madrid kit and a clear sign that the Frenchman isn’t just back, he may legitimately be more complete and better than ever now that he is fully integrated into the squad. He had five chances created as a striker, which is outrageous. Rating: 9.0
RW Brahim Diaz
For the most part, Brahim Diaz was having a quiet game before finding his groove in the second half with smart movement off the ball, a willingness to track back defensively when Real Madrid were getting a bit complacent at 4-2, and, of course, a very well-taken goal.
Brahim is an all-around asset on the flank for Real Madrid with his ambipedal skill set, technical quality, slippery dribbling, intelligent movement, and pure defensive grit.
He does the little things that the young Arda Guler isn’t, and that’s why Carlo Ancelotti has been vindicated by starting him in this key match before the holiday break against Sevilla. Rating: 7.5
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.