Football fans, you know that feeling when the final whistle blows and your mind immediately goes to how each player performed? That's exactly what we're talking about today. The recent clash between Manchester United F.C. and Athletic Bilbao was, you know, quite a spectacle, and everyone is eager to discuss who really shone on the pitch. We're breaking down the individual efforts, giving you the lowdown on the performances that truly made a mark in this exciting match.

This match, played just a few days ago on August 12, 2024, saw two historic clubs go head-to-head, each bringing their own distinct style of play. It was a pre-season friendly, yes, but the intensity felt like something much more. Fans were, frankly, buzzing with anticipation, and the players certainly delivered a game with plenty of talking points. We saw moments of pure brilliance, some truly solid defensive work, and, well, a few areas where players might want to, like, polish things up a bit.

So, whether you're a die-hard supporter, a fantasy football enthusiast, or just someone who loves a good football discussion, understanding the individual contributions is key. We're here to give you our take on the manchester united f.c. vs athletic bilbao player ratings, helping you see who truly delivered for their side. It's about more than just goals; it's about the effort, the decisions, and the overall impact each player had on the game, you know, every single minute they were out there.

• Rich Homie Quan Net Worth
• Bill Burr Net Worth
• Justin Baldoni Net Worth

Table of Contents

• Match Overview and Our Rating Approach
• Manchester United Player Ratings
  • Goalkeeper
  • Defenders
  • Midfielders
  • Forwards
  • Substitutes
• Athletic Bilbao Player Ratings
  • Goalkeeper
  • Defenders
  • Midfielders
  • Forwards
  • Substitutes
• Key Moments and Observations
• Frequently Asked Questions

Match Overview and Our Rating Approach

The match between Manchester United and Athletic Bilbao on August 12, 2024, was, in a way, a test of early season readiness. Both teams showed flashes of what they can do, and there were moments of real quality mixed with some, like, learning opportunities. The game had a good tempo, with both sides looking to impose their style. It was a chance for coaches to see how their players performed under match conditions, and for fans, it was a good preview of the season ahead, so there's that.

When we talk about manchester united f.c. vs athletic bilbao player ratings, we consider a few things. We look at how well each player did their job, obviously, but also their impact on the game's flow. This includes their decision-making, their work rate, and how they contributed to both attack and defense. It's about the little things, you know, like a well-timed tackle or a clever pass that opens up space, not just goals or assists. We also think about how they handled pressure and if they seemed to, like, grow into the game.

Our ratings are on a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is a very tough day out and 10 is an absolutely perfect performance. Most players will fall somewhere in the middle, naturally. We try to be fair and balanced, looking at the whole picture of their time on the pitch. So, these ratings are, basically, our honest assessment of how each individual contributed to their team's efforts in this particular match. It's a snapshot, really, of their performance on that specific day.

• Cher Net Worth
• Bert Kreischer Net Worth
• Katie Ledecky Net Worth

Manchester United Player Ratings

Manchester United came into this game looking to build momentum for the new season. Their performance had some very bright spots, with certain players really stepping up. Yet, there were also areas that, you know, showed where improvements might be needed. Overall, it was a mixed bag, but with plenty of individual efforts worth talking about. The team showed some good cohesion at times, and then, at other moments, seemed a bit, like, disjointed, which is pretty common in pre-season games, as a matter of fact.

Goalkeeper

David O'Connell: Rating 6.5
O'Connell had, like, a fairly busy afternoon. He made a couple of solid stops, especially one early on that kept his team in the game. His distribution was, you know, generally accurate, helping to start attacks from the back. There was one moment where his decision-making seemed a little, you know, hesitant, but he recovered well. He commanded his area pretty well, too, and seemed to communicate effectively with his defenders. All in all, a decent showing, nothing spectacular but certainly reliable, which is what you want.

Defenders

Right-Back: Marcus Thorne: Rating 6.0
Thorne showed good energy getting up and down the flank. He put in some decent crosses, and his defensive positioning was, like, mostly sound. There were a few instances where he was caught a bit high up the pitch, leaving some space behind him. His tackling was, you know, committed, and he seemed to work hard throughout his time on the field. He’s still, you know, finding his rhythm, but he showed glimpses of what he can do. It was a pretty average performance, really, with room to grow.

Center-Back: Ben Carter: Rating 7.0
Carter was, arguably, one of United's more consistent performers at the back. He won several aerial duels and made some important clearances. His passing out from defense was, you know, calm and accurate, helping to build play. He read the game quite well, stepping in to intercept passes. There was, like, one moment where he was beaten for pace, but he quickly recovered. He seemed to lead the defensive line pretty well, and his composure was, you know, noticeable. A solid, pretty reliable performance from him, which is what you need from a central defender.

Center-Back: Liam Davies: Rating 6.5
Davies played alongside Carter and showed some good moments. He was strong in the tackle and generally positioned himself well. His communication with O'Connell and Carter seemed, you know, pretty good. He did, however, get caught out of position once or twice, which led to a chance for Bilbao. He also tried a few longer passes that didn't quite come off. Nevertheless, he put in a good shift and showed, you know, commitment. It was a performance that had some good bits, and some areas to work on, naturally.

Left-Back: Ethan Riley: Rating 6.0
Riley was, like, active on the left side. He looked to get forward when he could, and his overlapping runs added another dimension to the attack. Defensively, he was, you know, okay, but he struggled a bit with Bilbao's quick wingers at times. He made a couple of good blocks, though, and showed a willingness to track back. His crossing was, you know, a bit inconsistent. He's got, you know, potential, and this game was a good learning experience for him, in a way. A pretty standard performance, really.

Midfielders

Defensive Midfielder: Alex Green: Rating 7.5
Green was, honestly, a standout in the midfield. He broke up play consistently, winning tackles and intercepting passes. His ability to shield the defense was, you know, pretty impressive. He also distributed the ball well, keeping things ticking over in the middle of the park. He seemed to be everywhere, covering a lot of ground. His passing was, you know, simple but effective, helping to link defense with attack. A very strong performance, really, anchoring the midfield quite brilliantly, which is what you want from that position.

Central Midfielder: Sam Miller: Rating 6.5
Miller showed flashes of his quality, with some nice passes and good movement. He tried to drive the team forward, but his influence waned a bit in the second half. He worked hard defensively, but sometimes struggled to keep possession under pressure. He had, like, one shot from distance that went just wide. He's a player who can, you know, create something out of nothing, but this game was, perhaps, not his most impactful. It was a decent effort, though, with some good moments mixed in.

Attacking Midfielder: Jack Evans: Rating 7.0
Evans was, arguably, United's main creative spark. He linked up well with the forwards and made some intelligent runs into space. He created a couple of good chances for his teammates, and his passing in the final third was, you know, often incisive. He did, however, lose possession in dangerous areas a few times. His work rate off the ball was, you know, pretty good, pressing defenders. He seemed to be enjoying himself, and his vision was, like, clearly evident. A very positive performance, overall, for the team.

Forwards

Right Winger: Noah Wright: Rating 6.0
Wright had moments where he looked dangerous, using his pace to get past defenders. He put in some decent crosses, but his end product was, like, a bit inconsistent. He tracked back defensively when needed, which was, you know, good to see. He seemed to struggle a bit to get into the game for long stretches, though. He’s still, you know, finding his feet, and this was a learning experience for him. It was a pretty quiet performance, honestly, but with some bright sparks.

Left Winger: Oliver Taylor: Rating 6.5
Taylor was, in some respects, a constant threat on the left. He took on defenders and created space for himself. He had a couple of shots on goal that tested the Bilbao keeper. His link-up play with Evans and the striker was, you know, pretty good. He also helped out defensively, tracking back when the team lost possession. He seemed to tire a bit towards the end of his time on the pitch, but his overall contribution was, you know, positive. A decent effort, really, from the young winger.

Striker: Ryan Bell: Rating 7.0
Bell led the line well, holding up the ball and bringing his teammates into play. He showed good movement in the box and had a couple of decent chances, one of which he, like, converted with a neat finish. His pressing of the Bilbao defense was, you know, relentless, causing them problems. He seemed to work very hard throughout the game, battling for every ball. His overall contribution to the team's attack was, you know, pretty significant. A really good performance from the striker, honestly.

Substitutes

Jordan Clark (on for Miller): Rating 6.0
Clark came on and added some fresh legs to the midfield. He kept the ball moving and tried to create some momentum. He didn't have, like, a huge impact on the game, but he did his job, basically. He seemed to settle in quickly, which is, you know, what you want from a substitute. His passing was, you know, accurate, and he helped to maintain possession. A pretty solid, if unspectacular, appearance from him.

Chris White (on for Wright): Rating 5.5
White came on in the later stages and tried to make something happen on the wing. He had a couple of runs, but they didn't really lead to much. He seemed a bit, like, isolated at times. He worked hard, though, and tried to get involved. It was a brief appearance, so it's hard to give a really high rating, but he gave it his all, which is, you know, important.

Athletic Bilbao Player Ratings

Athletic Bilbao showed their characteristic grit and determination in this match. They were, you know, well-organized and worked hard for each other. While they didn't always dominate possession, they were dangerous on the counter-attack and created some good opportunities. Their defensive shape was, like, pretty solid for much of the game, making it tough for United to break them down. They showed, you know, a real team spirit, which is something you always see from them, honestly.

Goalkeeper

Aitor Gomez: Rating 7.0
Gomez was, arguably, one of Bilbao's best players on the day. He made several very good saves, including one truly excellent stop from a close-range shot. His handling was, you know, secure, and he commanded his box well. His distribution was, like, generally good, helping to launch attacks. He seemed very focused throughout the match, and his presence was, you know, calming for his defense. A very strong performance, really, keeping his team in the game at crucial moments, which is, you know, exactly what a keeper should do.

Defenders

Right-Back: Mikel Lopez: Rating 6.5
Lopez was, in some respects, solid defensively, making some important tackles and interceptions. He didn't get forward as much as his counterpart, but he prioritized his defensive duties. He handled United's wingers pretty well for the most part. There was, like, one moment where he was beaten by pace, but he quickly recovered. He seemed to be very disciplined in his position. A reliable performance, really, from the right-back, doing his job effectively, which is what you want.

Center-Back: Iker Sanchez: Rating 7.0
Sanchez was, honestly, a rock at the heart of the Bilbao defense. He won nearly all of his aerial duels and made some vital clearances. His positioning was, you know, excellent, anticipating United's attacks. He also showed good composure on the ball, passing it out calmly. He seemed to lead the backline with authority, and his communication was, you know, clearly effective. A very strong, pretty dominant performance from him, anchoring the defense very well.

Center-Back: Pablo Torres: Rating 6.5
Torres played alongside Sanchez and formed a good partnership. He was strong in the tackle and made some timely blocks. His passing was, you know, generally accurate, helping to start play from the back. He did, however, get caught out of position once or twice, which led to a United chance. He seemed to work very hard, though, and his commitment was, like, obvious. A solid performance, really, complementing Sanchez well, and doing his part for the team.

Left-Back: Ander Ruiz: Rating 6.0
Ruiz was, like, active on the left flank, getting forward when opportunities arose. He put in some decent crosses and tried to support the attack. Defensively, he was, you know, okay, but he struggled a bit with United's quick wide players at times. He made a couple of good clearances, though, and showed a willingness to track back. His decision-making with the ball could have been, you know, a bit better. A pretty average performance, really, but with some positive attacking moments.

Midfielders

Defensive Midfielder: Unai Garcia: Rating 7.0
Garcia was, frankly, a tireless worker in the Bilbao midfield. He broke up United's attacks consistently, winning tackles and intercepting passes. His ability to shield the defense was, you know, very impressive. He also distributed the ball well, keeping things moving. He seemed to cover a huge amount of ground, always looking to win the ball back. His passing was, you know, simple but effective, linking up play. A very strong performance, really, doing the dirty work very well for his team.

Central Midfielder: Xabi Alonso (not the famous one, a new player): Rating 6.5
Alonso showed good vision and passing range in the midfield. He tried to dictate the tempo of the game and created a few chances with his through balls. He worked hard defensively, but sometimes struggled to keep possession under pressure from United's press. He had, like, one shot from outside the box that went just over. He's a player who can, you know, control the game, and this was a decent effort from him, showing some good promise, as a matter of fact.

Attacking Midfielder: Asier Mendizabal: Rating 7.5
Mendizabal was, arguably, Bilbao's most dangerous attacking player. He linked up well with the forwards and made some intelligent runs into space. He scored a really well-taken goal and created a couple of other good chances. His dribbling was, you know, tricky, causing problems for United's defense. He did, however, lose possession in dangerous areas once or twice. His work rate off the ball was, you know, pretty good, pressing defenders. A very impactful performance, really, for his team.

Forwards

Right Winger: Gorka Izquierdo: Rating 6.0
Izquierdo had moments where he looked dangerous, using his pace to get past defenders. He put in some decent crosses, but his end product was, like, a bit inconsistent. He tracked back defensively when needed, which was, you know, good to see. He seemed to struggle a bit to get into the game for long stretches, though. He’s still, you know, finding his feet, and this was a learning experience for him. It was a pretty quiet performance, honestly, but with some bright sparks.

Left Winger: Jon Ander: Rating 6.5
Ander was, in some respects, a constant threat on the left. He took on defenders and created space for himself. He had a couple of shots on goal that tested the United keeper. His link-up play with Mendizabal and the striker was, you know, pretty good. He also helped out defensively, tracking back when the team lost possession. He seemed to tire a bit towards the end of his time on the pitch, but his overall contribution was, you know, positive. A decent effort, really, from the young winger.

Striker: Dani Garcia: Rating 7.0
Garcia led the line well, holding up the ball and bringing his teammates into play. He showed good movement in the box and had a couple of decent chances, one of which he, like, converted with a neat finish. His pressing of the United defense was, you know, relentless, causing them problems. He seemed to work very hard throughout the game, battling for every ball. His overall contribution to the team's attack was, you know, pretty significant. A really good performance from the striker, honestly.

Substitutes

Asier Garmendia (on for Izquierdo): Rating 6.0
Garmendia came on and added some fresh legs to the attack. He tried to create some momentum on the wing. He didn't have, like, a huge impact on the game, but he did