Player Ratings: Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Real Madrid

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Murphy - 7 - Made a good save from Marcelo, and a spill soon after was still collected well. Tidy enough.

Flynn - 6 - Made one particularly good tackle on Guti, but a bad one on Cristiano Ronaldo. Generally can be pleased with his first half contribution.

Maguire - 7 - Looked impressive, especially with his tackle on goal-bound Raul, but did make one big mistake selling himself to Benzema, which almost put his side behind, but for the woodwork.

Sives - 6.5 - Another player guilty of a poor tackle on CR9, but was otherwise very disciplined and uncompromising at the back, much to the frustration of Madrid.

Bermingham - 7.5 - So he may not have been able to really outdo Ronaldo, but he certainly limited him very well. The left-back ensured that the £80m man was forced inside into areas and positions from which he couldn't do too much damage.

Gal-Andrezly - 6 - Didn't see as much of the ball as he may have perhaps hoped to, but didn't do himself any shame when he went forward on the break once or twice.

Rice - 7 - Was up for the midfield battle for the entire 90 minutes, giving as good as he got in an impressive display.

Robinson - 7 - The skipper can be pleased with his efforts, though not exactly winning a possession battle in which his side were barely 25% to Madrid's 75%, he certainly helped ensure Madrid couldn't do much with theirs.

O'Connor - 7 - Produced Shamrock's only two real moments of attacking class: one a great solo trick and shot that went just wide, and another decent shot.

Jurco - 5 - Virtually anonymous due to his side's inability to keep the ball and create attacking opportunities.

Amond - 5 - Barely saw any of the ball, unfortunately for him. Was at very least a willing runner and tried to force mistakes from Madrid when he could.

Substitutes

Duggan - 6 - Made a great save from a spectacular Van der Vaart overhead kick, but also sold himself a little too soon for the goal.

Treacy - 6.5 - Put in a solid enough shift off the bench and did his best to keep up with a fast-paced Madrid forward line.

Price - 4.5 - Was caught out by the long ball over the top that led to the goal.

Cahill - 5.5 - Did a decent enough job at full-back, though Michel Salgado caused him a few problems on the overlap.

Bradley - 6 - His good work rate kept Madrid busy, but he was unable to really get his foot on the ball for any prolonged period.

Purcell - 5.5 - Not a bad showing, though limited in his opportunities to have an impact on proceedings.

Baker - 4.5 - Had a good chance hit first time that was well off target, then a second great chance that he ruined for himself with a heavy touch. Could have won the game for Shamrock!

McGill - 5 - Left looking like so many other of Shamrock's players that weren't in defence: anonymous. Very limited time on the ball.

Twigg - n/a.

Madden - n/a.

REAL MADRID

Jerzy Dudek - 6.5 - Did very, very, very little - but when called into action after a dreadful back-pass put through Baker, Dudek's scramble was part inspired, part incompetent, but eventually irrelevant.

Miguel Torres - 6.5 - Put in a couple of good challenges and was very solid for the entire first half, without ever being able to bust a gut and make the difference.

Pepe - 7 - Very tidy in defence, attacking everything that came forward from Shamrock, ensuring they had next to no genuine chances on goal.

Cristoph Metzelder - 5.5 - In a very passive, sweeping role, Metzelder had nothing to do by the time Pepe snuffed out what little danger came from Shamrock.

Marcelo - 6.5 - Had a good shot early on and his quick feet generally caused Shamrock a few problems, but it was down his flank that most of Shamrock's attacking came, because he was so far forward.

Fernando Gago - 6.5 - Looked his usually elegant self, but didn't have that extra gear to unlock the Shamrock defence.

Lass Diarra - 7.5 - Hasn't missed a beat since his performances last season. Unflappable, very simple but effective in possession and almost always in the right place to cut out any hint of a Shamrock attack.

Cristiano Ronaldo - 6.5 - Made plenty of good runs, rarely if ever lost the ball and most of his tricks came off. His three shots at goal weren't quite up to scratch, though.

Guti - 6 - Showed a decent range of passing, but there was no 'Guti magic' on show to unlock a packed Shamrock back line.

Gonzalo Higuain - 5 - Arguably Madrid's most disappointing performer in the first half. His scintillating form from last season hasn't quite lasted over the summer, as he's still finding his gears and didn't look to be settled in any particular position.

Raul - 5 - Was nothing more than efficient. Being outnumbered by so many Shamrock defenders encouraged him to come deep to collect the ball and not do a whole lot with it.

Substitutes

Michel Salgado - 7 - Didn't look his age, as he was still full of energy, making good last-ditch tackles and great forward runs. Booked for a dive he seemingly regretted before he even hit the ground - but he was caught!

Ezequiel Garay - 7 - A commanding presence at the back, looking very much unflappable, though not often tested.

Gabriel Heinze - 6 - Looked somewhat hapless, almost selling Shamrock a goal straight after coming on, but did play a vital part in the result, as his long ball was picked up and finished by Benzema.

Royston Drenthe - 6 - Was solid down his flank. A reasonably good performance good to help build his confidence, though his future probably won't be in defence and he did have trouble with his crosses, he acquitted himself well enough, to show he still does have that other string to his bow.

Dani Parejo - 6 - Had a few sloppy moments and didn't have the finesse of some of his team-mates, but did show some moments of class, despite being 'just' a youngster in a team of Galacticos.

Rafael van der Vaart - 6.5 - Added so much dynamism to Madrid going forward. Very creative, very threatening and almost scored a sensational overhead kick. His classy performance was blighted by a lazy back-pass that almost gifted Shamrock a goal.

Wesley Sneijder - 7 - Had quicker feet and a burst of pace across five or ten yards that gave Madrid more than Guti could offer. Did nothing exceptional, but did the simple things well, and quickly.

Alvaro Negredo - 7 - Had a couple of decent efforts and was otherwise anonymous in an attacking sense, but did great for himself by making an invaluable goal-line clearance from a corner.

Karim Benzema - 8 - Showed he may not just be sloppy seconds to David Villa after all. It's only pre-season, it was 'only' Shamrock Rovers, but Benzema was everywhere: very quick, very sharp, had a magnificent effort from distance that crashed off the inside of the post and won the game late on with a great run in behind, perfect first touch and the finish of a truly great striker.

Marcos Tebar - 6.5 - The Madrid cantera player's brief appearance was unfancy but effective in his midfield holding role.

Sulmaan Ahmad, Goal.com