Atletico Madrid 2-1 Valencia Player Ratings: Koke 8.5/10 Rated as Antoine Griezmann to Rojiblancos Rescue in 2nd Half

What a chaotic and brilliant game of football we just witnessed. Atlético Madrid managed to scrape a 2-1 win against a very spirited Valencia side in a La Liga clash that had everything. This felt like a classic Simeone performance, full of grit, drama, and key moments turning their way. The match exploded into life early, and the drama just never stopped.

Atlético Madrid took the lead through a well-taken goal by their captain, Koke, but Valencia were far from discouraged. They fought back hard, hitting the woodwork through Hugo Duro, and even had a Pepelu goal chalked off by VAR in a decision that felt incredibly harsh from where we were sitting. Their persistence paid off when substitute Lucas Beltrán fired in a stunning equalizer. Just when a draw seemed likely, Antoine Griezmann popped up with a late winner, securing a vital three points for the home side in this memorable match. Here are Sportsdunia's Atletico Madrid vs Valencia player ratings.

Atletico Madrid Player Ratings vs Valencia

Check out the Atletico Madrid player ratings for the Atletico Madrid vs Valencia fixture.

Goalkeeper

Jan Oblak - 6.5: A surprisingly quiet evening for the Slovenian giant. He conceded one goal that he could do little about and made one save. His distribution was a bit off, with a pass accuracy of only 59%, which is not what we expect from him. He claimed one high ball confidently but wasn't the commanding presence we're used to seeing.

Defenders

Matteo Ruggeri - 7.0: A really solid performance from the defender. He was strong in the challenge, winning 6 of his 9 duels and making a couple of important tackles. What stood out to us was his desire to get forward, creating a big chance and even testing the keeper himself. A very well-rounded display.

Dávid Hancko - 6.5: Did his job without any fuss. He was a rock at the back, making six clearances to relieve pressure on his side. His passing was crisp and accurate, helping build from the back. We noticed he was rarely caught out of position, providing a stable presence throughout the game.

Marc Pubill - 8.0: An outstanding performance that really caught our eye. Defensively, he was a monster, blocking three shots and making seven clearances. Then he showed his quality at the other end, providing a brilliant through ball for the winning goal. A truly complete fullback performance, even with the booking.

Nahuel Molina - 6.0: An uncharacteristically quiet 45 minutes for him. He was hooked at halftime after struggling to make a real impact. He lost the ball nine times in one half, which is simply too much at this level. An afternoon to forget.

Midfielders

Koke - 8.5: Our man of the match, without a doubt. He absolutely dominated the midfield, scoring the opener with a composed finish. Beyond the goal, he was everywhere, making 9 ball recoveries and winning 6 of his 8 duels. A true captain's performance that dragged his team over the line.

Pablo Barrios - 6.5: A lively and energetic display before being subbed off. He showed some great flashes of skill, creating two chances for his teammates. However, he was a bit careless in possession at times, losing the ball on ten occasions. There's a great player in there, but he needs to add more consistency.

Giuliano Simeone - 6.0: It was a frustrating night for him. We felt he worked tirelessly but the quality just wasn't there. Being dribbled past four times is a poor statistic, and he missed a big chance to score. A performance full of effort but lacking end product.

Nico González - 7.0: Very effective during his hour on the pitch. He was a disruptive force, winning his tackles and recovering the ball well. He also contributed to the attack, getting a shot on target and creating a chance. A really solid and underrated performance.

Forwards

Alexander Sørloth - 6.5: A night of near misses for the big striker. He was a constant handful for the Valencia defence and was unlucky to see his goal disallowed by a tight VAR call. He battled hard, winning a good number of duels, but his finishing touch deserted him.

Julián Alvarez - 7.0: He was a little ball of energy. His movement was excellent and he created two chances, including one big one. We were particularly impressed with his defensive work rate, winning two tackles high up the pitch. A selfless and effective performance.

Substitutes

Robin Le Normand - 6.0: Came on for Molina at halftime and shored things up defensively. A steady, if unspectacular, appearance.

Conor Gallagher - 6.5: Injected some needed energy into the midfield for the last 30 minutes. He kept things simple and helped see out the game.

Antoine Griezmann - 7.5: The hero of the hour. Came off the bench and did what he does best, scoring the crucial winning goal. A game-changing substitution and a moment of pure class.

Thiago Almada - 6.0: Looked a bit rushed after coming on. He got a yellow card and didn't really contribute much to the attack.

Manager

D. Simeone - 7.5: This was a classic Simeone win. His team was organized, gritty, and took their chances when it mattered. His substitutions were spot on, with Griezmann's introduction proving to be the masterstroke. He'll be delighted with the three points.

Valencia Player Ratings vs Atletico Madrid

Check out the Valencia player ratings for the Atletico Madrid vs Valencia fixture.

Goalkeeper

Julen Agirrezabala - 7.5: He deserved better than a loss. From our perspective, he was outstanding, making four crucial saves to keep his team in the contest. He was confident and commanding and couldn't be faulted for either of the goals he conceded. A top-class goalkeeping display.

Defenders

José Copete - 6.5: A solid if unremarkable performance. He was very tidy in possession, with an 86% pass completion rate, and held his own in his physical battles. He was part of a defense that ultimately conceded twice, but he wasn't directly at fault for either goal.

Dimitri Foulquier - 6.0: He worked his socks off down the flank but lacked a bit of quality. Had three attempts on goal, but none of them troubled the keeper. A decent defensive shift but offered little going forward, which was a disappointment.

Eray Cömert - 5.5: He had a difficult evening before being forced off with an injury. An error from him led to a shot, and he looked a bit vulnerable. We hope the injury isn't too serious, as he looked in some discomfort.

Midfielders

André Almeida - 7.0: The creative hub of the team. His pass accuracy was a sublime 94%, and he provided the assist for Beltrán's equalizer. He was calm and composed on the ball, always looking to create something. A very classy performance.

Thierry Correia - 5.0: A really tough day at the office for him. We noticed he lost possession an alarming 18 times and struggled in his duels. He just seemed off the pace of the game from the very start. Definitely his worst performance in a while.

Pepelu - 7.0: The captain was immense. He was desperately unlucky to have his goal disallowed by VAR. His passing was exceptional, and he dictated the tempo for Valencia beautifully. A real leader's performance.

Jesús Vázquez - 7.0: A fantastic, all-action display. He was a nightmare for the Atlético defence, successfully completing four dribbles and winning eight duels. He was a constant outlet for his team before being substituted late on. A very impressive showing.

Filip Ugrinic - 6.0: He was involved in a lot of good moments for Valencia but his final product let him down. He created a big chance but also squandered some shooting opportunities. A bit of a mixed bag from him.

Forwards

Hugo Duro - 6.0: A game of 'what ifs' for the striker. He was inches away from a spectacular opening goal, only to be denied by the crossbar. He missed another couple of big chances and his frustration boiled over with a late yellow card. He could have been the hero.

Diego López - 6.5: He looked lively and dangerous in his 55 minutes on the pitch. He got into good positions and drew fouls from the opposition. Valencia missed his directness after he was subbed off.

Substitutes

Lucas Beltrán - 7.5: What an impact. He came off the bench and scored a brilliant goal from outside the box with one of his first touches. A dream substitution that briefly turned the game on its head.

Baptiste Santamaría - 6.0: Replaced the injured Cömert and did a competent job in difficult circumstances. Kept things simple.

Javi Guerra - N/A: Didn't have enough time to make a significant impact.

José Gayà - N/A: A late cameo with little to do.

Largie Ramazani - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes but couldn't find a moment of magic.

Manager

C. Corberán Vallet - 6.5: His game plan was nearly perfect. His team was brave, created chances and was unlucky with several key decisions. His substitution to bring on Beltrán was a stroke of genius. He'll be disappointed with the result but proud of the performance.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match Goes to Koke