El Clasico, Barcelona Vs. Real Madrid: Halftime Player Ratings

It’s hard to get too much content on El Clasico, right? No, I’m not being sarcastic. I know a lot of people out there are complaining about overhype, but I’m not buying it. There are people out there who only follow soccer as a whim, and if the hype surrounding this match tells them that this is one of the three or four matches per year they should devote time to, then it will be their time well spent.

It isn’t often you get the clear, agreed, two best teams in the world playing each other. Consider last year’s Champions League final.

So, with that out of the way, one man’s first half player ratings. Let me know if you see different.

Barcelona

Victor Valdes, 7 - The most difficult task was putting an early Ángel Di Maria chance over the bar. Has done to come cover a couple of dangerous crosses, but he’s mostly been on onlooker. Barcelona ended the half with 61 percent of the possession.

Eric Abidal, 6 - Has done his job, kept everything in front of him, but like much of the Barcelona defense, has had little to do.

Gerard Pique, 6 - Like Abidal, has done well with the questions he’s been asked, but ultimately was not asked any difficult ones.

Carles Puyol, 7 - At one point was driving into the ground by Ronaldo step-overs, but what came of that play? Nothing. Against Puyol is put in the places where your best defender is expected to succeed, and again on the biggest stage he’s coming through.

Daniel Alves, 5 - Has been kept very quiet by the conscious marking of Di Maria, and twice Real Madrid have been able to get dangerous crosses in from his side.

Sergio Busquets, 6 - He been quiet in both defense and attack but has been smart about his positioning and distribution, which is pretty much exactly what you’d want him to do.

Andres Iniesta, 8 - A great half. Active, creative, and taking advantage of an absent Real Madrid midfield. He has been the spark for the Blaugrana, providing the ball that led to the initial goal.

Xavi, 8 - Scored the opener and had one of the last passes on the second goal.

Lionel Messi, 7 - Hit the post early on and has provided some moments of danger, but has otherwise been uninfluential. Earned that uncharacteristic card before half.

David Villa, 8 - Provided the ball for Pedro’s goal, made the run that opened up the box for Xavi’s goal, and has been close to exploiting Real Madrid’s high line.

Pedro, 7 - Right place, right time for the second goal. Like Busquets, that’s his job.

Real Madrid

Iker Casillas, 5 - Not that every goalkeeper would have done better, but on Barcelona’s two guys, he was just another guy. Could have done better on the Villa cross that created Pedro’s goal.

Sergio Ramos, 5 - Exploited on the Villa cross and has seen the channel between himself and Pepe nearly exploited a couple of times.

Pepe, 6 - Made a very nice tackle on Messi half way through the match that’s distinguished him from Ramos.

Ricardo Carvalho, 6 - Also made a nice play no Messi half way through the first period but is playing closer to five than a seven.

Marcelo, 3 - Made a nice effort to try and stop the first goal, but he ultimately came up short. We beaten badly on the second.

Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso, 4 - This duo has done nothing to try and contain Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta, the players who have dominated today’s match.

Mesut Ozil, 3 - In addition to doing a lot of walking when Barcelona’s in possession, has been the late jumping into attack. Seems overwhelmed by the occasion.

Cristiano Ronaldo, 7 - He been the most active of the Real Madrid players, putting in a couple of nice crosses for Karim Benzema.

Karim Benzema, 5 - You would like to see him doing more to find space when Ronaldo is in possession.

Angel Di Maria, 8 - Have Madrid’s best chance early in the match and did great work defensively.