Real Madrid’s Thrilling Comeback: Player Ratings, VAR Drama, and Carvajal’s Last-Gasp Winner

Real Madrid faced off against Almeria in a thrilling La Liga encounter that saw controversial refereeing decisions and a late comeback by Los Blancos. Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr, and Dani Carvajal were the heroes of the match, as they secured a 3-2 victory in stoppage time. This article will provide player ratings for Real Madrid, analyze their performance in each department, and discuss the impact of the substitutions made by manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Goalkeeper & Defence:

• Kepa Arrizabalaga (4/10): Made a mistake in failing to stop Almeria’s opening goal.
• Dani Carvajal (7/10): Initially struggled but redeemed himself with a last-gasp winner.
• Antonio Rudiger (5/10): Positioning was off, but fortunate to benefit from Almeria’s disallowed goal.
• Nacho (3/10): Had a poor first half and was responsible for the build-up to Almeria’s goals.
• Ferland Mendy (5/10): Substituted at halftime, struggled defensively.

Midfield:

• Aurelien Tchouameni (6/10): Assisted Vinicius’ equalizer, but underperformed in anchoring the midfield.
• Toni Kroos (6/10): Provided accurate passes but could have had a greater impact.
• Federico Valverde (6/10): Put in effort but lacked attacking thrust from an advanced position.
• Jude Bellingham (8/10): Impressed with Zidane-esque pivots, converted a penalty, and assisted the winning goal.

Attack:

• Rodrygo (5/10): Had an anonymous first half and was substituted at halftime.
• Vinicius Jr (7/10): Initially ineffective but controversially scored Real Madrid’s second goal.

Subs & Manager:

• Joselu (6/10): Involved in the play leading to the penalty.
• Brahim Diaz (7/10): Made an impact with his pace and energy on the right.
• Fran Garcia (6/10): Contributed significantly on the left wing during Madrid’s comeback.
• Dani Ceballos (5/10): Failed to assert himself in the contest.
• Eduardo Camavinga (N/A): Played a crucial role in the build-up to the winning goal.
• Carlo Ancelotti (8/10): Made tactical adjustments at halftime and inspired Madrid’s comeback, although he was disappointed with their defensive performance.

FAQs:

1. Who scored the winning goal for Real Madrid against Almeria?

   • Dani Carvajal.

2. Which player provided VAR-assisted assists in the match?

   • Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr.

3. How did Real Madrid avoid embarrassment against Almeria?

   • Through controversial refereeing decisions and a late comeback.

4. Who converted the penalty for Real Madrid?

   • Jude Bellingham.

5. Who made significant contributions after coming on as substitutes?

Brahim Diaz and Fran Garcia had a notable impact.