Atletico Madrid 1-0 Getafe Player Ratings: Molina 8.5/10 Screamer Enough as Getafe Reduced to Ten Men

Nahuel Molina had no right to score that goal. A right-footed thunderbolt from outside the box, carrying an xG of just 0.01, crashed into the top right corner inside eight minutes to give Atletico Madrid the perfect start at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. It was the kind of goal that changes the entire complexion of an afternoon, and from that moment, Diego Simeone's side were in the driving seat, controlling the tempo and threatening to put the game beyond Getafe's reach at any moment.

Yet for all their dominance, Atletico Madrid could never truly relax. Getafe showed admirable resilience and discipline, making the home side work hard for every opportunity. The tie shifted decisively in the 55th minute when Abdelkabir Abqar was shown a straight red card for violent conduct following a VAR review, reducing Getafe to ten men and opening the door for Atletico to press home their advantage. The visitors, to their credit, held firm, but ultimately the quality of Molina's early intervention proved to be the difference between the two sides. Here are Sportsdunia's Atletico Madrid vs Getafe player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Molina's wonder goal was the moment that defined the entire match.
• Abqar's red card made a difficult afternoon near impossible for Getafe. The VAR-upgraded dismissal in the 55th minute left the visitors with ten men for over 35 minutes, yet Atletico still struggled to add a second goal despite their numerical advantage.
• Atletico were dominant without being devastating. Despite a flurry of attacking substitutions, including Griezmann, Lookman, and Alvarez from the 66th minute, the home side couldn't kill the game off and were made to sweat until the final whistle.

Atletico Madrid Player Ratings vs Getafe

Here are the Atletico Madrid player ratings for the Atletico Madrid vs Getafe La Liga fixture.

Goalkeeper

Juan Musso - 7.5: Had a relatively quiet game for large parts but was solid when called upon. He made two important saves from inside the box. What stood out to us was his perfect pass accuracy and confidence in claiming high balls. He couldn't have done much about the chances Getafe had, a confident presence.

Defenders

José María Giménez - 7.5: A commanding performance from the central defender. He won all his ground duels and made an incredible ten clearances. His passing was crisp, and he was a rock at the back. A really solid display, marshaling the backline with authority. We noticed he was instrumental in provoking offsides.

Clément Lenglet - 7.0: A very composed and tidy performance alongside Giménez. He had an impressive 88% pass accuracy and made some key interceptions. He won all of his duels, which is exactly what you want from your defender. He wasn't spectacular, but he was incredibly effective and reliable.

Marc Pubill - 7.0: A very energetic performance on the flank before being subbed. He was solid defensively, winning all his duels and making some good recoveries. He also got forward, taking two shots, though he should have done better with one of them. A good, all-action display.

Midfielders

Koke - 7.5: The captain ran the show from midfield. He had 100 touches and created four chances for his teammates. His range of passing was excellent, spraying the ball around to start attacks. He was the metronome for his team, controlling the tempo throughout. A true captain's performance.

Nahuel Molina - 8.5: The clear man of the match. His goal was a thing of beauty, a stunning strike from distance that won the game. Beyond the goal, he was a constant threat, taking five shots. He also worked hard defensively, making eight ball recoveries and three tackles. An outstanding, all-around performance.

Thiago Almada - 6.0: A somewhat quiet game for the midfielder. He struggled to impose himself on the match and lost possession a few too many times. He worked hard and made a few tackles but lacked that spark in the final third. Not his best day at the office.

Obed Vargas - 7.0: A really bright and busy performance. He was excellent on the ball, completing all his dribbles and finding teammates with accuracy. He also put in a defensive shift, winning his duels and making two tackles before picking up a yellow card. A promising display before being substituted.

Nico González - 6.5: A mixed bag of a performance. He was strong in the air and made some important defensive contributions. However, he struggled in his duels and lost possession a few times. He was solid but unspectacular, doing the simple things right without setting the world alight.

Forwards

Alexander Sørloth - 6.5: A frustrating night for the big striker. He was unlucky to see his header hit the post in the first half. He won a lot of his aerial duels and worked tirelessly for the team. But, he missed a big chance and was often isolated. His physical presence was a nuisance for defenders.

Álex Baena - 7.0: He was a creative force for his team, setting up three chances including one big chance. He drifted into dangerous positions and looked to make things happen. He did lose the ball quite a bit, but that's the risk you take when you're always trying to create. A lively and inventive performance.

Manager

D. Simeone - 7.0: A classic Simeone victory. Get the early goal and defend resolutely. He will be delighted with the clean sheet and the three points. However, he might be slightly concerned that his team failed to kill the game off against ten men. His substitutions were logical, aiming to maintain control. Job done.

Getafe Player Ratings vs Atletico Madrid

Check out the Getafe player ratings vs Atletico Madrid.

Goalkeeper

David Soria - 7.5: He was arguably Getafe's best player. Kept his team in the match with several key saves, especially one to deny Molina a second goal. He was commanding in his box, and his distribution was excellent under pressure. Without him, the scoreline could have been much worse.

Defenders

Abdel Abqar - 4.0: A night to forget for the defender. He was having a decent game until his moment of madness. The red card early in the second half was a rash decision that cost his team dearly. It left his teammates with a mountain to climb. A very poor judgment call.

Kiko Femenía - 3.5: A disastrous performance. From our perspective, he was at fault for the goal and never looked comfortable. He was hooked at halftime, which tells you everything. He struggled to make an impact and was a liability defensively. A really tough outing.

Juan Iglesias - 7.0: A tireless display from the full-back. He was solid defensively, winning most of his duels and making three crucial tackles. He also tried to get forward and support the attack, creating one chance. One of the few Getafe players to come out of the game with real credit.

Domingos Duarte - 7.0: A very solid defensive performance. He made a crucial clearance off the line and was a composed presence at the back. He read the game well, making two interceptions and blocking a shot. He can be proud of his individual effort despite the result.

Zaid Romero - 5.5: A very difficult evening for the defender. He battled hard but was often overwhelmed, losing possession 20 times. He made a high volume of tackles and interceptions, but his use of the ball was poor. The yellow card for a cynical foul summed up his frustrating night.

Midfielders

Dakonam Djené - 6.0: The captain put in his usual combative shift. He won a decent number of his duels and made some important interceptions and tackles. However, his passing was not at its best, and he struggled to link the defence and attack effectively. A hard-working but limited performance.

Luis Milla - 6.5: He tried to get on the ball and make things happen, but it was a struggle. He had one good shot on target and worked hard, but he also missed a big chance. His passing was decent but he couldn't unlock the Atlético defence. A decent effort in a losing cause.

Mauro Arambarri - 5.0: A very quiet and ineffective game. He was dispossessed four times and lost the ball frequently. He missed a big chance to get his team back in the game. From our perspective he looked off the pace and struggled to make any real impact before being substituted.

Forwards

Martín Satriano - 6.5: He was a handful for the Atlético defence. He created a big chance for a teammate and had a shot on target himself. He worked hard and won a fair few of his aerial battles. The final product was lacking, but the effort was certainly there.

Luis Vázquez - 6.0: He was a physical presence up front, winning an impressive six aerial duels. However, his touch let him down and his passing was poor. He had a couple of shots but failed to threaten the goal. A willing runner but lacked the quality needed.

Manager

J. Bordalás Jiménez - 6.0: It's hard to judge him too harshly. His game plan was ruined by the early goal and the second-half red card. His team showed fight and character to stay in the game with ten men. He'll be frustrated by the individual errors that cost his team any chance of getting a result.

Man of the Match

Nahuel Molina was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Abdel Abqar was one of the worst performers.