Yannick Carrasco earned a maximum 10.0 match rating on Wednesday despite Al-Shabab's failure to beat Al-Riyadh in a chaotic 3-3 draw. The Belgian midfielder created eight chances for his teammates in a performance that had everything except the crucial final touch from those around him.
None of Carrasco's eight key passes resulted in a goal. He completed 36 of his 44 attempted passes as Al-Shabab twice surrendered the lead in a match that swung from end to end. The attacking midfielder's flawless rating underlines the gap between creation and execution, a theme that has haunted the Saudi Pro League club through the early weeks of their campaign.
Numbers without reward
Eight chances carved out would normally yield at least one assist, often two. Carrasco operated as the chief creator in a game that produced six goals but left him empty-handed in the final column. His passing accuracy of 82 per cent was solid without being spectacular, yet the quality of his delivery into dangerous areas separated him from every other player on the pitch.
Al-Riyadh defended poorly but finished clinically. Al-Shabab did the opposite. Carrasco's perfect score reflects a personal performance that ticked every box except the one that mattered most to the team, the result that slipped through their fingers twice.