Espanyol 2-1 Atletico Madrid Player Ratings: 8/10 Julian Alvarez Heroics Can't Save Atletico Madrid From Bitter Loss

Espanyol produced a brave performance to pick up a 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the opening game of the 2025-26 La Liga campaign on Sunday (18 August, 2025). Despite going behind through Julian Alvarez's free kick, two goals from substitutes helped Espanyol to grab a thrilling win to deal a bitter loss to Los Rojiblancos.

Atletico Madrid had a cagey start to the game, being neutralised by the hosts' strong defensive structure. Julian Alvarez had some long-range efforts saved before coming up with something truly special in the 37th minute. Alvarez scored an amazing free kick to give his side the lead, leaving Espanyol's players with no chances of denying that!

Atletico continued their domination in the second half, with Alvarez also hitting the post early on. However, their inability to double the lead came back to haunt them in the 73rd minute, when substitute Miguel Rubio popped up in the far post from a set piece and guided a shot past Jan Oblak.

Espanyol kept pushing and were able to complete the comeback in the 84th minute thanks to a looping header from Pere Milla going past Oblak. Espanyol were able to hold onto the lead to start their league campaign with a brilliant comeback win.

Here are our Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid Player Ratings!

Espanyol Player Ratings

Here are our Espanyol Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Marko Dmitrovic - 6/10

In his league debut for Espanyol, Dmitrovic had a bittersweet outing. He made some sharp reflex saves to frustrate the opponents, but couldn't do anything about Alvarez's super goal.

Defenders

Omar El Hilali - 7/10

El Hilali worked hard on the right side, but couldn't really stop Atletico Madrid's movement down that side. He was, however, a menacing figure going forward and produced a super cross to assist the second goal.

Fernando Calero - 6/10

Calero did a pretty good job in moving ball around, being commanding with his passes. He made some important challenges, but didn't look comfortable against the tricky Alvarez.

Leandro Cabrera - 7/10

Cabrera maintained admirable positioning for the majority of the game, helping him cut out trouble. He made a number of crucial clearances to frustrate the visitors, cutting out a lot of trouble.

Carlos Romero - 6.5/10

Romero covered a lot of ground going up and down his side. He did a relatively decent job in not allowing Simeone that much space, and was promising with his forward movement.

Midfielders

Edu Exposito - 8.5/10

Exposito troubled the Atletico Madrid players with his clever work in midfield. He was proactive enough to win duels and make key possession recoveries, and helped shield his backline strongly. Produced an excellent assist for the equaliser.

Pol Lozano - 6/10

Lozao tried his best to keep things tight in the central areas, coming up with multiple possession recoveries. He wasn't, although, contribute much in the attacking sense.

Ramon Terrats - 6/10

Terrats moved around menacingly in the Atletico Madrid area and completed a few eye-catching dribbles. However, he lacked any creative threat and couldn't test Oblak either.

Jofre Carreras - 4.5/10

Carreras had a pretty forgettable game for Espanyol. He was not able to drive them forward into danger areas and couldn't create any chances either.

Forwards

Javier Puado - 7/10

Puado was a problem for the Atletico Madrid defenders with his unpredictable movement. He dribbled past muliple times to drive his side forward, but lacked that cutting edge with his final product.

Roberto Fernandez - 6.5/10

Fernandez faced a tough task of facing Atletico's sturdy centre-back duo. He did pretty good with his link-up play and won a lot of duels to keep the defenders on their toes.

Substitutes

Kike Garcia - 6/10

Garcia was able to raise his side's spirits in midfield, covering a lot of ground and winning the ball back quite often.

Tyrhys Dolan - 6/10

Dolan couldn't create that much, but was able to win some key duels to help his side go forward.

Miguel Rubio - 7.5/10

Rubio made an instant impact after coming on, producing a stellar finish for his goal.

Pere Milla - 7.5/10

Milla came up with an expert looping header to outwit the Atletico Madrid players and win the game for his side!

Jose Salinas - N/R

Manager

Manolo Gonzalez - 8/10

Gonzalez actually maintained a sturdy defensive shape for his side, ensuring that they didn't allow that many clear-cut chance to happen. He urged his side to maintain the stubborn shape and his substitutions worked out, with both Miguel and Milla scoring!

Atletico Madrid Player Ratings

Here are our Atletico Madrid Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Jan Oblak - 4/10

Oblak kept his proactive presence in the goalline, being able to react to trouble quickly. He made some nice saves through the first hour, but failed to react in time to deny Rubio's goal. Should've done better to make an effort to save the second goal.

Defenders

Marcos Llorente - 6.5/10

Llorente harassed the Espanyol players with his never-ending energy levels on the right side. The Spaniard worked hard defensively, winning the ball back many times and he was troublesome with his forward movement, helping set up some nice moves.

Robin Le Normand - 5.5/10

Le Normand held together a sturdy defensive shape, maintaining his team's defensive line strongly in the first half. He made a number of key clearances, but was booked for his aggressiveness and was poorly outwitted for the second goal.

David Hancko - 6.5/10

Hancko showed a lot of spirit in his league debut for Atletico Madrid. He troubled the Espanyol forwards with his hassling defensive work and came up with a number of vital clearances.

Matteo Ruggeri - 6/10

Ruggeri was a livewire with his attacking runs, constantly darting up and down the left-wing. He overlapped nicely to trouble Espanyol, but was outwitted at teh back at times. Allowed the cross for the second goal to be sent in too easily.

Midfielders

Conor Gallagher - 5.5/10

Gallaher maintained an energetic presence in midfield, passing the ball forward nicely and making some key possession recoveries. However, he lacked that creative spark and lost quite a few duels too.

Johnny Cardoso - 6.5/10

Gardoso was quite energetic in the midfield battle in his Atletico Madrid debut. He helped his side dominate the midfield battle, winning most of his duels. Had to be taken off early because of a booking.

Giuliano Simeone - 6/10

Even though Simeone wasn't given that much space on the right wing, he worked hard to trouble the hosts. The Argentine made some promising forward runs and won of his duels. He had a few attempts go astray and lacked that special spark with his final product.

Thiago Almada - 6.5/10

Almada had quite a promising league debut for his side. He was exciting to watch with his clever movement and dribbles, creating a few eyecatching chances with his creative passes.

Forwards

Alex Baena - 6.5/10

Baena was a problem for the Espanyol players because of his ability to find empty spaces and his final product. He created three goalscoring chances, but was unfortunate not to get an assist.

Julian Alvarez - 8/10

Alvarez was a real livewire in the attack, moving all around the final third to sniff out chances. He had a few shots saved, scored an amazing free kick and also hit the post after a slick move in the second half.

Substitutes

Pablo Barrios - 6.5/10

Barrios raised the spirit of his side, moving the ball forward nicely, but he couldn't help them out defensively.

Koke - 5.5/10

Koke couldn't really help his side dominate the game or double their lead, nor could he stop the comeback.

Antoine Griezmann - 5/10

Griezmann had a drab substitute appearance, failing to create anything nor being able to help his side get more goals.

Giacomo Raspadori - 5/10

Totally lost the marker on Rubio before his goal.

Alexander Sorloth - N/R

Failed to enhance his side's scoring ability.

Manager

Diego Simeone - 5/10

Simeone had his side playing some slick passing football, which included smart link-up play and creating many chances from open play. However, his players weren't at their ruthless best and their lapses in concentration haunted them. His substitutions failed to impact the game.

Sportsdunia's Man of the Match goes to Edu Exposito.