Atletico Madrid 3-2 Rayo Vallecano Player Ratings: Julian Alvarez Rated 9.5/10 as His Hat-Trick Seals Dramatic 3-2 Victory

What a chaotic and utterly breathtaking game of football we just witnessed. Atlético Madrid somehow snatched a 3-2 victory from the jaws of defeat against a spirited Rayo Vallecano side. This La Liga clash at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano was a true rollercoaster from start to finish. From our perspective, this was one of the most entertaining matches of the season so far.

The hero of the hour was, without a shadow of a doubt, Julián Alvarez. He was simply on another planet tonight. He opened the scoring early, but Rayo showed immense character, with Pep Chavarría scoring a world-class goal to level things before the break. The drama was far from over, as Rayo took a shock lead in the second half through a swift counter-attack.

Just when it seemed like Atlético were heading for a stunning home loss, Alvarez stepped up again. He dragged his team back into the match with an equalizer before completing his hat-trick with a sublime winner in the 88th minute. It was a chaotic, end-to-end battle that left everyone breathless.

Here are the Atletico Madrid Vs Rayo Vallecano Player Ratings

Atletico Madrid Player Ratings vs Rayo Vallecano

Here are Atletico Madrid Player Ratings vs Rayo Vallecano

Goalkeeper

Jan Oblak - 6.0: A difficult night for the shot-stopper, conceding two goals. He couldn't have done much for either strike, to be fair. Made a crucial save from inside the box and a couple of punches to relieve pressure. From our perspective his command of the area wasn't as dominant as we've come to expect. He seemed a little rattled by Rayo's attacks.

Defenders

Marcos Llorente - 7.5: An absolute engine on the right flank. He provided a perfect cross for the opening goal and was a constant source of creativity. Llorente created three big chances, showing his quality in the final third. He did pick up a yellow card and was a bit loose in possession at times. But his attacking contribution was simply outstanding throughout the game.

Nahuel Molina - 6.0: A fairly standard performance from the defender. He linked up well with the attack in the first half, creating a couple of notable chances. He was substituted just before the hour mark as Simeone looked to change things up. He didn't do much wrong, but he didn't exactly set the world on fire either.

Dávid Hancko - 6.5: Had his hands full all evening. He was a busy man, making a high number of tackles and clearances to keep Rayo at bay. He was generally solid in his duels, but was part of a defence that ultimately conceded two. What stood out to us was his effort, though he did miss a good headed chance late on.

Javi Galán - 6.5: A lively presence on the left side. He consistently pushed forward, creating two chances and getting into dangerous positions. Was caught offside a couple of times, but it showed his attacking intent. Defensively, he was solid enough before he was subbed off in the final 20 minutes.

Robin Le Normand - 6.0: It felt like a quiet game for him. His passing from the back was tidy and secure, but we expected more defensive dominance. He picked up a late yellow card and never really imposed himself on the Rayo forwards. An okay performance but nothing more.

Midfielders

Conor Gallagher - 6.5: You can never fault his work rate. He ran his socks off, making several key interceptions and keeping the ball moving with simple, effective passes. However, he struggled in his physical duels and didn't offer much of a creative spark going forward. A typical industrious but unspectacular performance.

Koke - 6.0: The captain's influence on the game was limited. While his passing was mostly accurate, the midfield often felt bypassed by Rayo's quick transitions. He received a yellow card for a clumsy challenge and was substituted early in the second half. It was a move that felt necessary at the time.

Pablo Barrios - 6.0: A mixed bag from the youngster. He showed great energy to recover the ball eight times, but also had some very nervy moments. One of his errors directly led to a shot, which was a real heart-in-mouth moment. He played the full match, and this will be a valuable, if difficult, learning experience.

Forwards

Antoine Griezmann - 7.0: Looked dangerous whenever he was on the ball. He forced a good save from the keeper and created a couple of clear-cut chances for his teammates. His intelligent movement and link-up play were excellent. It was a surprise to see him subbed off, as he looked likely to make something happen.

Julián Alvarez - 9.5: A perfect, match-winning performance. This was simply sensational. He scored a clinical hat-trick, showing his versatility by scoring with both feet and from different positions. He was the highest-rated player on the pitch and the sole reason Atlético won. We are running out of superlatives for him.

Substitutes

Giuliano Simeone - 7.0: Changed the game completely. His energy and directness caused chaos in the Rayo defence. He hit the crossbar and provided the crucial assist for the winning goal. A massive impact from the bench.

Nico González - 6.5: Brought some much-needed composure to the midfield. He helped Atlético regain control of the game and had a couple of shots blocked. A steadying influence.

Giacomo Raspadori - 6.5: Looked sharp in his cameo. His movement was intelligent, and he drew fouls in dangerous areas. Added another layer to the attack.

Marc Pubill - N/A: On for the final ten minutes, not enough time to make a real impact.

Matteo Ruggeri - N/A: Came on alongside Pubill but did manage to create a chance in his short time on the pitch.

Manager

D. Simeone - 7.5: His team looked set for a disastrous home defeat. However, his substitutions were absolutely spot on, particularly the introduction of Giuliano Simeone. He recognised the problems and made bold, aggressive changes that turned the tide. He deserves immense credit for masterminding the comeback.

Rayo Vallecano Player Ratings vs Atletico Madrid

Here are Rayo Vallecano Player Ratings vs Atletico Madrid

Goalkeeper

Augusto Batalla - 7.0: It's hard to fault a keeper who concedes three, but he was brilliant. He made five huge saves that kept his team in the contest for so long. What stood out to us was his command of his box and his bravery against onrushing attackers. He was just undone by some incredible finishing.

Defenders

Pep Chavarría - 7.5: What a game he had. Scored an absolute screamer to equalize and was a beast defensively. He won almost all of his duels and made six tackles. It was a near-perfect display, combining defensive solidity with a moment of attacking magic. The late yellow was his only blemish.

Iván Balliu - 6.0: A tough assignment against a potent Atlético attack. He battled hard but struggled at times, earning a yellow card for his troubles. He tried to support the attack when he could. It was a difficult evening for him, and he looked tired by the end.

Florian Lejeune - 6.5: A solid and composed performance at the heart of the defence. He made five clearances and a couple of key tackles. His passing was reliable, and he did well to organize a backline that was under immense pressure for large spells of the game.

Jozhua Vertrouwd - 5.5: From our perspective, he struggled significantly. The pace and movement of the Atlético forwards seemed to overwhelm him. While he made a few clearances, he was also beaten too easily on a couple of occasions. A night to forget for the defender.

Midfielders

Andrei Rațiu - 5.5: He had a really tough time out there. Lost the vast majority of his duels and was frequently caught in possession. His frustration boiled over with a late yellow card. He just couldn't get into the rhythm of the game at all.

Unai López - 7.0: The creative hub for Rayo while he was on the pitch. He provided a brilliant assist for the first goal with his quick thinking. His passing was inventive and precise, and he was at the heart of Rayo's best moves. His substitution was a bit of a surprise.

Fran Pérez - 6.5: A really bright spark, especially in the first half. He created a gilt-edged chance for Alemão and his energy was infectious. He worked tirelessly off the ball to press the opposition. Faded slightly as the game went on before being substituted.

Óscar Valentín - 6.5: A true captain's performance in the engine room. He was a disruptive force, winning a remarkable seven out of his nine duels. He broke up play effectively and shielded his defence well. A classic battling display before being withdrawn.

Forwards

Isi Palazón - 7.5: A phenomenal creative performance. He was a constant thorn in Atlético's side. Provided the sublime assist for the second goal and was unlucky not to score himself. His vision and execution were top-class, and he was Rayo's most dangerous player by far.

Alexandre Zurawski - 5.0: This was a night he will want to forget quickly. He missed a huge, clear-cut chance in the first half that could have put his team ahead. He struggled to hold up the ball and gave it away far too often. We felt he was the worst performer on the pitch.

Substitutes

Álvaro García - 7.0: A dream impact from the bench. He scored what he thought would be the winner with a composed finish on the counter. His pace was a huge asset.

Pacha Espino - 6.0: Brought on to add defensive stability but couldn't help stem the late Atlético tide. Did his job adequately.

Pathé Ciss - 6.0: Added some bite to the midfield battle and picked up a yellow card for his troubles. A combative cameo.

Pedro Díaz - N/A: Came on with just over ten minutes to play, not enough time to make an impact.

Gerard Gumbau - N/A: A late sub brought on to see out a lead that evaporated almost instantly.

Manager

I. Pérez Soto - 6.5: His game plan was brave and almost worked to perfection. His team showed incredible heart to take the lead and defended resolutely for most of the game. His counter-attacking setup caused Atlético endless problems. Ultimately, he was undone by a moment of individual genius, but his team's performance was commendable.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Julian Alvarez