Rayo Vallecano 1-1 Levante Player Ratings: Lejeune 8.0/10 Inspires Rayo's Dramatic Fightback as Ciss Snatches Last-Gasp Levante Equaliser

Levante looked to have done the hard part. Carlos Espí's 41st-minute header, Nobel Mendy's red card eight minutes into the second half, and a disciplined defensive display for the remainder of the contest had the visitors firmly on course for three precious La Liga points at Vallecas Stadium. For 90 minutes and beyond, they absorbed Rayo's desperate attempts and seemed destined to leave Madrid with the win their performance merited.

Then Pathé Ciss had other ideas. Deep into stoppage time, with the clock reading 90+8, the substitute somehow found a way through to snatch a dramatic equaliser that sent the home faithful into absolute delirium and left Levante's players shell-shocked on the Vallecas turf. It was the cruelest of endings for a visiting side that had defended with tremendous resolve, and no small part of Rayo's ability to stay in the contest was down to Florian Lejeune, who was simply immense at the back throughout, refusing to let his side crumble even when reduced to ten men and chasing a game that looked well beyond them. Here are Sportsdunia's Rayo Vallecano vs Levante player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Lejeune was the defensive bedrock that kept Rayo alive long enough to snatch the equaliser.
• Mendy's red card in the 53rd minute made Rayo's point feel all the more remarkable.
• Ciss's 90+8 equaliser was the defining moment of the entire contest.

Rayo Vallecano Player Ratings vs Levante

Here are the Rayo Vallecano player ratings for the Rayo Vallecano vs Levante La Liga fixture.

Goalkeeper

Augusto Batalla - 7.0: He was called into action multiple times and made four crucial saves inside the box. We noticed his excellent distribution, especially with long balls. While he conceded one goal, he couldn't have done much about Espí's header. His saves, particularly in the first half, were vital to keep his team in the contest.

Defenders

Iván Balliu - 6.5: A typically industrious performance from Balliu before he was forced off. He was solid defensively, winning most of his duels and making three tackles. He also tried to contribute offensively with a few forward runs. His departure was a blow, but he put in a good shift for his 76 minutes on the pitch.

Florian Lejeune - 8.0: Our Man of the Match. What a colossal performance from the defender. He was an absolute rock at the back, winning eight duels and making five clearances. From our perspective, his commanding presence was key after the red card. To top it all off, he provided the brilliant assist for the last-gasp equalizer.

Nobel Mendy - 4.0: A really tough night for the young defender. He looked a bit off the pace from the start and picked up an early yellow card. The second yellow for handball was a moment of madness, leaving his teammates with a mountain to climb. It was a rash decision that almost cost his team the match.

Alfonso Espino - 7.0: A workhorse performance on the left flank. He was everywhere, making 84 touches, more than any other Rayo player. He was solid in his defensive duties with four clearances and five duels won. Espino also provided an outlet in attack, creating two chances.

Midfielders

Óscar Valentín - 6.5: The captain was his usual steady self in the middle of the park. He kept the ball moving with a 91% pass accuracy and broke up play effectively. He didn't do anything spectacular, but his reliable presence was important before he was substituted in the second half.

Gerard Gumbau - 6.0: A quiet first half for Gumbau. He failed to impose himself on the game and was often bypassed by Levante's midfield. He was hooked at halftime, which tells its own story. Not his best day at the office.

Pedro Díaz - 6.5: He was certainly willing to shoot, registering four attempts, but none found the target. He worked hard and recovered the ball five times, but his final product was lacking. He missed a big chance in the first half, which he should have buried.

Forwards

Fran Pérez - 6.0: Similar to Gumbau, he had a very quiet first half. He had one shot on target but struggled to get involved in the play. It was no surprise to see him replaced at the interval as Rayo sought more attacking impetus.

Jorge de Frutos - 6.5: He showed flashes of his quality and created a big chance. However, from our perspective, he drifted in and out of the game too much. He had a great opportunity to score late on but was denied by the keeper.

Alexandre Zurawski - 5.5: A very disappointing outing for the striker. He was isolated for large parts of the match, losing possession 13 times and missing a big chance. He just couldn't make an impact and was substituted after 65 minutes.

Substitutes

Ilias Akhomach - 7.0: Made a real difference after coming on at halftime. He was direct, energetic, and looked to take players on. His introduction gave Rayo a much-needed spark.

Álvaro García - 6.5: His pace was a threat, but his end product was inconsistent. He got into some good positions but couldn't provide the decisive moment until assisting de Frutos' late chance.

Isi Palazón - 6.5: Brought on to add some creativity and control in midfield, and he did a decent job under difficult circumstances.

Pathé Ciss - 7.5: The super sub and the hero of the hour. He was in the right place at the right time to smash home the equalizer. A game-changing contribution that earned his team a valuable point.

Manager

I. Pérez Soto - 7.0: His team looked flat in the first half, but his halftime substitutions were positive. He adapted well after the red card, and his decision to bring on Pathé Ciss was a masterstroke. He deserves credit for masterminding the comeback with ten men.

Levante Player Ratings vs Rayo Vallecano

Check out the Levante player ratings vs Rayo Vallecano.

Goalkeeper

Mathew Ryan - 7.5: A very strong showing from the Australian keeper. He made three important saves, including a crucial one-on-one stop late in the game. He commanded his area well and was unlucky to concede in the dying seconds. He deserved a clean sheet.

Defenders

Jeremy Toljan - 6.0: A mixed performance. He was solid for the most part, but picked up a needless yellow card and looked a bit vulnerable at times. He made four clearances but also lost possession a fair amount.

Matías Moreno - 7.0: A really solid defensive display. He read the game well, making seven clearances and two interceptions. He was strong in the duel and rarely looked troubled. The late yellow card was the only blemish on a very good performance.

Alan Matturro - 7.5: What stood out to us was his sheer number of clearances - a massive twelve. He was an absolute wall at the back, winning seven of his nine duels. A dominant and powerful defensive performance from the Uruguayan.

Manu Sánchez - 7.0: A tireless display from the left-back. He made an incredible seven tackles, winning four of them. He was a constant thorn in the side of Rayo's attackers and contributed to a solid defensive unit, despite a late yellow.

Midfielders

Oriol Rey - 6.5: A neat and tidy performance in the heart of midfield. He kept the ball well and screened the defense effectively. He wasn't spectacular, but he did his job with quiet efficiency.

Kareem Tunde - 5.5: It was a struggle for him to get into the rhythm of the game. He picked up an early yellow card and was eventually substituted after Rayo went down to ten men. He lost five of his nine duels and couldn't make a significant impact.

Iván Romero - 7.0: He was a creative livewire for Levante. He created three chances and was a constant threat with his movement and passing. His influence waned slightly as the game went on, but it was an impressive showing before his substitution.

Iker Losada - 7.5: Absolutely brilliant assist for the opening goal. It was a moment of pure quality. Beyond that, he created two other chances and was always looking to make things happen. A top-class creative performance.

Forwards

Víctor García - 7.5: He was a constant menace down the right wing. He created a staggering four chances, including one big chance, and had three shots himself. Levante's attack flowed through him for large periods. An excellent, all-action display.

Carlos Espí - 8.0: A fantastic performance from the striker. He scored a wonderful header to give his side the lead and was a handful all night. He had four shots, with three on target, and was a constant aerial threat. He can count himself very unlucky to not be on the winning side. Levante's best player on the day.

Substitutes

Paco Cortés - 6.0: Brought on to add fresh legs but immediately got himself a yellow card. He worked hard but didn't offer much else.

José Luis Morales - 6.0: Didn't have enough time to really influence the proceedings in the final 15 minutes.

Ugo Raghouber - N/A: Not on long enough to receive a rating.

Kervin Arriaga - N/A: Came on late with little time to make an impact.

Karl Etta Eyong - N/A: A late cameo appearance.

Manager

L. Ferreira de Castro - 6.5: His team executed their game plan perfectly for 93 minutes. They were organized, dangerous on the counter, and took their chance well. He will be absolutely furious with his team for conceding at the death. It feels like two points dropped rather than one gained.

Man of the Match

Florian Lejeune was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Nobel Mendy was the worst performer.