Atlético Madrid Vs Villarreal Player Ratings: Marcos Llorente 8.5/10 Rated as Comfortable 2-0 Victory for the Home Side

A thoroughly dominant performance saw Atlético Madrid secure a comfortable 2-0 victory over Villarreal in a one-sided La Liga clash. The match was won in the opening stages. Atlético Madrid came out of the gates flying, and it felt inevitable that they would score early. That goal came from the boot of Pablo Barrios just nine minutes in, and it completely set the tone for the rest of the match. The home side simply controlled the proceedings at Riyadh Air Metropolitano. They never looked in any real danger of surrendering their lead.

What stood out to us was Villarreal's complete lack of a clinical edge. They had their moments, most notably when Nicolas Pépé rattled the crossbar just before halftime, but they couldn't find a way through. The second goal from Nico González early in the second half was the final nail in the coffin, sealing a well-deserved three points for Diego Simeone's men. Here are the Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal player ratings.

Atlético Madrid Player Ratings vs Villarreal

Here are the Atletico Madrid player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jan Oblak - 7.0: Had very little to do for most of the game, which is a testament to his defense. He made one crucial save from Sergi Cardona before the break. His distribution was solid and he commanded his area with his usual authority. A quiet but composed performance.

Defenders

Marcos Llorente - 8.5: Our clear Man of the Match. An absolutely monstrous performance from the versatile Spaniard. He provided the assist for the second goal, was nearly perfect with his passing, and his energy was infectious. From our perspective, he was the engine of the team and drove them forward at every opportunity.

Robin Le Normand - 6.5: A solid if unspectacular outing before being forced off with an injury. He was tidy in possession and made a couple of important clearances. Didn't put a foot wrong but wasn't tested too much either. His departure was a slight concern but the team managed well.

Clément Lenglet - 6.5: A bit of a mixed bag. He was strong in the air and made some key blocks but also gave away a few too many clumsy fouls. He seemed a little rash at times, but ultimately did his job in keeping a clean sheet. An acceptable performance.

Matteo Ruggeri - 6.0: Seemed to struggle with the pace of the game on a few occasions. He picked up a deserved yellow card and was caught out of position once or twice. He wasn't a total liability, but he was certainly the weak link in the backline before being substituted.

Midfielders

Koke - 7.5: The captain was a metronome in the heart of midfield. His pass completion rate of 99% tells the whole story. He dictated the tempo of the game, recycled possession effortlessly, and kept his team ticking over. A classic, understated masterclass from the veteran.

Pablo Barrios - 8.0: Got the all-important opening goal with a well-taken finish. He was a bundle of energy, covering a lot of ground and contributing both offensively and defensively. He did lose the ball a few times but his goal and overall impact were immense.

Giuliano Simeone - 7.0: A real handful for the Villarreal defense. He drew an incredible number of fouls and was a constant pest. His finishing was a bit wayward, and he missed a couple of decent chances, but his work rate and ability to disrupt the opposition were invaluable.

Nico González - 7.5: A powerful and effective performance, capped off with a decisive header for the second goal. He was a physical presence in midfield, winning his duels and driving forward. It was a real shame his game was ended by injury, as he was excellent.

Forwards

Antoine Griezmann - 7.0: He didn't get on the scoresheet, but his creative influence was clear to see. He created a couple of good chances and his movement off the ball was intelligent. As always, his defensive work rate was exceptional for a forward. A classy, team-first performance.

Julián Alvarez - 7.0: Only played for 45 minutes but made a huge impact. He set up the first goal with a clever assist and looked incredibly sharp. His booking was the only negative in a very promising first-half display. He gave his team the perfect start.

Substitutes

Alexander Sørloth, Conor Gallagher, Dávid Hancko, Marc Pubill, Javi Galán: The substitutes came on to see the game out and did so effectively. They helped maintain control and ensure there were no late scares for the home side. A professional job from all involved.

Manager

D. Simeone - 7.5: His tactics were spot on. His team started with high intensity, secured an early lead, and controlled the game from there. He managed the in-game injuries well with smart substitutions. This was a classic, comfortable Simeone victory built on defensive solidity and clinical attacking.

Villarreal Player Ratings vs Atlético Madrid

Here are the Villarreal player ratings.

Goalkeeper

Luiz Júnior - 6.0: Couldn't have done much about either goal. He was left exposed by his defense. Made one save later in the game but otherwise had a quiet day in terms of shot-stopping. Looked a bit uncertain with the ball at his feet.

Defenders

Juan Foyth - 6.5: He was one of the few Villarreal players who looked comfortable in possession, with a near-perfect pass completion rate. However, he offered little in terms of defensive interventions and was part of a backline that was too easily breached.

Renato Veiga - 5.5: A really tough outing for the defender. He struggled to cope with Atlético's movement, picked up a yellow card, and was second-best in most of his duels. A day he will want to forget quickly. He just looked off the pace.

Santiago Mouriño - 6.0: He had a very busy day, making a number of tackles and clearances. However, he was also booked and looked stretched at times. He fought hard but was ultimately part of a defense that was overwhelmed.

Sergi Cardona - 5.0: Our lowest-rated player. A shocking performance. He missed a golden opportunity to equalize right before halftime, and his defensive error was a key moment in the match. He just wasn't at the races at all.

Midfielders

Dani Parejo - 6.0: Tried his best to get his team playing, creating a couple of chances with his passing. But he was often overrun in midfield and his influence waned as the game went on. The early yellow card seemed to limit his ability to be aggressive.

Thomas Partey - 5.5: An almost anonymous performance against his former club. He failed to impose himself on the game in any meaningful way. It was no surprise to see him substituted after a very quiet 64 minutes. We expected much more.

Tajon Buchanan - 6.5: A willing runner and one of the few bright sparks for Villarreal. He worked hard, drew several fouls, and tried to make things happen. However, his final product was often lacking and he lost possession too frequently.

Alberto Moleiro - 6.0: Showed some nice touches and dribbles but was ultimately wasteful. He missed a clear-cut chance and his decision-making in the final third was poor. A frustrating performance full of unfulfilled promise.

Forwards

Georges Mikautadze - 5.5: Completely isolated and ineffective. He barely had a touch of the ball in dangerous areas and offered no threat to the Atlético Madrid defense. A very difficult evening for the forward, who was a passenger for much of the game.

Nicolas Pépé - 6.5: He was so unlucky to hit the crossbar with a fantastic free-kick. For a while, he looked like the only player who might create something for Villarreal. However, he was also very wasteful in possession, losing the ball 15 times.

Substitutes

Ayoze Pérez, Santi Comesaña, Pape Gueye, Tani Oluwaseyi, Alfonso Pedraza: The substitutes were brought on to try and change the game, but none could make a significant impact. The flow of the match was already set, and they struggled to get into the rhythm against a well-organized Atlético side.

Manager

M. García Toral - 5.5: His team was second-best from the first whistle to the last. They were tactically outclassed, looking porous at the back and toothless in attack. His substitutions failed to change the course of the match. A very poor showing and a deserved defeat.

Sportsdunia's Player of the Match is Marcos Llorente