Valencia 4-1 Real Madrid: Penalty Madness as Blancos Are Hammered at Mestalla

Three penalties. Three.

Sunday night at the Mestalla marked the first time a team has ever scored three penalties against Real Madrid in a single game.

Hat-trick hero Carlos Soler was the man to benefit on a bizarre evening of La Liga action that saw the hosts climb into the top 10 and Real Madrid miss out on a chance to gain ground on the early pace setters.

Let's get into some player ratings on a wild night for Valencia and Real Madrid.

VALENCIA

1. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Jaume Domenech (GK) - 8/10 - Confident, assured keeping for most of the game, including a couple of fine stops to keep the visitors out of a comeback amid all the penalties.

Daniel Wass (RB) - 6/10 - Pretty solid, but in truth Madrid's wide attacking options were underwhelming for much of the contest.

Jose Gaya (LB) - 7/10 - Impressive going forward and at the back. There are few better in the division in his position.

Hugo Guillamon (CB) - 7/10 - No player made more clearances or won more aerial duels than the 20-year-old.

Gabriel Paulista (CB) - 7/10 - Comfortable for most of the game, Madrid's listless attack made it relatively easy for the former Arsenal man at times.

2. Midfielders

Yunus Musah (RM) - 7/10 - The newly called-up USA star had a goal chalked off in the first half and was generally a menace.

Denis Cheryshev (LM) - 7/10 - Picked up a yellow for a bad challenge on Valverde but was otherwise impressive against his old club.

Carlos Soler (CM) - 9/10 - Cool under pressure to bag a hat-trick of penalties - including one retake. Icy, icy veins.

Uros Racic (CM) - 7/10 - Occasionally bypassed in midfield, but it mattered little, ultimately. The 22-year-old was strong in possession and put in a tireless display.

3. Forwards

Maxi Gomez (ST) - 6/10 - Won a penalty and was a handful, but didn't actually force a shot all night.

Lee Kang-in (ST) - 7/10 - Had a shot tipped onto the post by Courtois after beating Ramos. Unlucky not to get in on the goal fun before being hooked with 20 to play after picking up a knock.

4. Substitutes

Toni Lato - 6/10

Jason - N/A

Ruben Sobrino - N/A

Kevin Gameiro - N/A

REAL MADRID

5. Goalkeeper & Defenders

Thibaut Courtois (GK) - 5/10 - Amazingly didn't have all that much to do besides collecting penalties from out of his net.

Lucas Vazquez (RB) - 4/10 - Gave away the first pen with a handball and toiled on the flank against the in-form Cheryshev. For all his endeavour, Vazquez is just not a right back.

Marcelo (LB) - 4/10 - Got the assist for Benzema but really it was the Frenchman who did the hard bit. His defending to give away the second penalty was pure desperation.

Raphael Varane (CB) - 3/10 - Netted the oddest own goal you are likely to see this season.

Sergio Ramos (CB) - 4/10 - Never one to let others take all the limelight, Madrid's captain gave away penalty number three with another handball and endured a tough old night.

6. Midfielders

Federico Valverde (CM) - 7/10 - Helped control possession for Madrid, especially in the first half, but to no avail.

Luka Modric (CM) - 7/10 - See above.

Isco (AM) - 4/10 - Not the sort of performance to make Zidane really want to bring him in from the cold.

7. Forwards

Marco Asensio (RW) - 4/10 - Made the fewest touches of any of Madrid's outfield starters. Tells you what you need to know really.

Vinicius Jnr (LW) - 4/10 - Second fewest.

Karim Benzema (ST) - 8/10 - Cracker of a goal. Without him - a player undervalued for many years - Madrid would be (even more) lost at sea.

8. Substitutes

Martin Odegaard - 5/10

Rodrygo - 5/10

Mariano Diaz - 5/10

Toni Kroos - 6/10

Luka Jovic - N/A