REMEMBERING THE TOP 13 MATCHES THAT DEFINED NACHO’S LEGACY AT REAL MADRID
Nacho was the last of his kind. From the 21st century, he sits with Guti, Casillas, and Carvajal as players to spend nearly their entire youth career and professional career at Madrid. Something that maybe happened once every 10 years now will likely be once every 20 years.
The captain departs but leaves a legacy. Nacho gives youth players a different example to look to: Providing value and becoming important to a team often comes down to persistence; riding out the good and bad. Stick it out long enough, and you begin to gain expertise, skills, and insights that complement the initial talent. Come to work with a positive attitude and always be ready and available for your next opportunity, not just a lesson for football but a lesson for life.
As he departs, we can look back on some of Nacho’s best performances in a Real Madrid shirt. Thanks to Managing Madrid’s archive of Player Ratings articles, we can look back with ease:
- Debut in Valencia | Valencia 3 - Real Madrid 6 | April 23rd, 2011:
In what turned out to be a memorable game, a big away-day win with nine goals in total including a vintage Kaka performance, Nacho started and made his debut at left back under then-coach Jose Mourinho. He put in a strong shift and came away with plaudits from the media and his manager. Nacho was captain of Castilla at the time but was rarely talked about as the likes of Jese, Carvajal, Morata, and Sarabia were the more popular names. A starter at center back for Castilla, this match would go on to foreshadow his entire career: a versatile, reliable, and poised defender who can be counted on at a moment’s notice.
When asked by The Athletic about Nacho’s career at Real Madrid, Mourinho was like a proud father: “I am proud of him. He was a kid but with the mentality of a man. It was easy to see his potential at every level. From that Valencia match until the Champions League final, I can only say that I am so proud of him.”
2. First Big UCL Knock-Out Night | Real Madrid 3 - Schalke 1 | March 18th, 2014:
After the away day demolition (6-1) of Schalke in the first leg where the BBC (Bale-Benzema-Cristiano) ran riot, the job had to be finished at home in the second leg. Nacho got the start at right back and was foot perfect. Our own Lucas Navarrete wrote the following in his player ratings:
Nacho: A- Brilliant match by Nacho. He might not be strong enough to be an elite center back, but it seems that he could have a bright future in the right flank of the defense. His first half was impressive. If he improves his crossing, he will be able to contribute.
3. Shot Action that Caused Own Goal in Big UCL Victory | Real Madrid 5 - Basel 1 | September 16th, 2014:
Nacho started at right back in an important Champions League group game at home vs FC Basel in 2014 under Carlo Ancelotti. The defense was made up of Nacho-Pepe-Ramos-Marcelo, and it was Nacho who kick-started the goal-scoring feast. The then #18 latched on to a lovely backheel from James Rodriguez and crossed from the right side of the box, which ultimately deflected off Marek Suchy for an own goal. It was yet another impressive performance from Nacho being utilized as a right back.
4. Game-Winning Goal vs PSG | Real Madrid 1 - PSG 0 | Novemeber 13th, 2015:
Rafa Benitez opted to start Nacho as a left back in a massive group-stage match vs PSG. The defender marked the occasion by scoring a deft one-touch left-footed inside-of-the-foot volley from just outside the box. It would go down as one of his best goals at Real Madrid.
5. THE Scissor-Kick vs Cultural Leonesa | Cultural Leonesa 1 - Real Madrid 7 | October 26th, 2016
The 2016-2017 season saw Real Madrid’s “B Team” often perform at a championship level. The likes of James Rodriguez, Kovacic, Morata, Asensio, Lucas Vazquez, and Nacho often filled the team sheet. The team ran riot against Segunda B’s Cultural Leonesa in the Copa del Rey, but the goal that will long be remembered was Nacho’s acrobatic scissor kick. A cross from James Rodriguez to the top of the box invited Nacho to fling his body in the air and contort in a way that produced a bit of magic.
6. Two Goals in Partidazo vs Deportivo | Real Madrid 7 - 2 Deportivo La Coruna | January 21st, 2018
An exerpt from own Player Ratings on the day:
Nacho—9.5: If Madrid had kept the clean sheet, Nacho would have earned a 10. With a performance like today, the question arises—should Nacho be a more consistent starter? After Madrid went behind, it was Nacho who stepped up and took his goal brilliantly. A recycled corner kick found its way to the Spaniard who linked up with Marcelo via a quick one-two and slotted the first goal home. But the center back wasn’t finished; he popped up later to score Madrid’s seventh with some beautiful technical work. He was a defensive stalwart and stopped every Depor attack that came his way.
7. Pocketing Lukaku and Lautaro at the San Siro | Inter Milan 0 - 2 Real Madrid | November 25th, 2020
By this stage of his career, Nacho was forming as part of the rotation most consistently as a center back. This game lives long in the memory for how he put in a number of commanding slide tackles on Lukaku and kept both the Belgian and his Argentinian strike partner, Lautaro, quiet. Player Ratings from the night below:
Nacho — 8.5: In for Ramos tonight and proved he could step up to the challenge. Floated up top to help in attack but was never caught out of position when doing so. Also won the penalty. Great to see him back in top-form. Finished the match with five tackles, one dribble and one aerial duel.
8. Commanding Performance away to Atlanta in UCL Knock Out| Atlanta 0 - 1 Real Madrid | February 24th, 2021
The below exercept is from Rob Husby’s Player Ratings article on the night:
Nacho—9: Felt Nacho had one of his strongest matches in a while defensively. He tracked back very well and played some lockdown defense. Not easy shining where your captain usually does in European competition, but Nacho was brilliant and my pick for Man of the Match.
9. Militao and Nacho Resolute at Anfield | Liverpool 1 - 3 Real Madrid | April 14th, 2021
Varane and Ramos were both out with extended injuries, leaving Real Madrid fans nervous ahead of the most important period of the season. Despite the nerves, Nacho played with the poise he always exuded anytime he needed to step up to the plate. It was a recurring theme in the defender’s career: be called up to replace an injured starter and play at an elite level despite lack of rhythm.
10. Goal in Seville to Help Clinch the Title | Sevilla 2 - Real Madrid 3 | April 17th, 2022
With a Champions League final on the horizon after yet another dramatic comeback, the league leaders had to finish the job domestically with an important game away in Seville. Sevilla scored two early goals inside the opening 20 minutes to put Carlo Ancelotti’s men on the backfoot. The comeback DNA translated from the Champions League over to La Liga and Nacho, who had just entered the match as a substitute, scored the equalizer in the 82nd minute from a corner kick. The team would go on to clinch the victory with a last minute goal from Karim Benzema.
11. Klopp Lauds Nacho | Liverpool 2 - Real Madrid 5 | Ferbuary 21st, 2023
An excerpt from Kiyan Sobhani’s article titled, “Nacho extracted Salah’s soul over two legs”, sums it up best:
Mohamed Salah had about 27 minutes of freedom over two legs against Real Madrid, until, after an injury to David Alaba in the first leg at Anfield, Nacho Fernandez entered the pitch as the team’s left-back. As soon as the Spaniard arrived, he locked up Salah and put him in chains, putting an incredible defensive shift that was admired even by Jurgen Klopp.
12. Nacho Proves the Doubters Wrong vs Haaland | Manchester City 1 - Real Madrid 1 | April 17th, 2024
For much of the 2023-2024 season Nacho was maligned for his poor form and uncharactersitic rash behavior leading to suspensions. After ACL injuries to both Militao and Alaba, the captain was thrusted into a full-time, consistent starting role for the first time in his career. Despite the early season critics, Nacho turned his form around and was instrumental in Madrid’s final season run towards winning the Champions League and La Liga double. He capped his resurgence with two fantastic displays against Manchester City and Erling Haaland. Excerpt from this year’s 2nd leg Player Ratings below:
Nacho—8.5: Haaland tried to get the better of Nacho but failed. The Norwegian had a few aerial duels inside the box which he beat the Spanish defender, but otherwise the captain was foot perfect. Many doubted his ability heading into the match, but once again Nacho proved that he is a true defender. Warrior-like performance.
13. Captain and Starter in a UCL Final Victory | Borussia Dortmund 0 - Real Madrid 2 | Ferbuary 21st, 2023
Nacho’s career arc is easily overlooked. Only player in decades to make the transition directly from the academy to the first team. Never played over 2,000 mins until ‘16/’17 season under Zidane - his fourth season as a professional. His career deserved this moment: start a UCL final and raise the trophy as captain.
