Karim Benzema
Putting behind the controversy that has plagued him this season, Karim Benzema seems to have his full focus back on football once again and the Frenchman put in another impressive performance during the 2-2 draw against Valencia.
Benzema opened the scoring with a fine goal in the 16th minute and created a host of opportunities for his teammates throughout the clash. Even more impressively, Benzema helped out defensively as well and it was a fantastic all round performance from the Frenchman.
As a result, everyone was left baffled by manager Rafael Benitez’s decision to replace Benzema with the ineffective Lucas Vazquez in the 66th minute of the game and the decision was arguably one of the contributing reasons behind the Spaniard’s eventual departure from the Santiago Bernabeu.
Gareth Bale
When Cristiano Ronaldo suffers an off day, Gareth Bale usually steps up to the plate and the Welshman did so once again by delivering a very good performance during the clash at the Mestalla.
Bale put the Valencia backline under pressure throughout the game and the attacker would have thought that he handed Madrid the victory after scoring with a fine looping header during the 82nd minute.
Unfortunately, the goal was eventually not good enough to earn Madrid the win but nonetheless, it was a top performance from Bale on the night – barring an embarrassing confusion with Ronaldo in the second period.
Toni Kroos
Toni Kroos had been struggling in recent games but the German international was arguably back to his best after putting in a fine midfield display against Valencia.
Dictating matters at the middle of the park, Kroos did not put a foot wrong during the clash and his impeccable passing meant that Madrid were able to create a host of opportunities throughout the match.
Kroos also delivered a wonderful ball in for Bale to score in the 82nd minute and the German will now surely be keen on building on his performance in the coming matches under new manager Zinedine Zidane.
