Spain 2-2 Turkey Player Ratings: Bayındır Rated 8.5/10 as Thrilling Match Ends in a Draw

What a chaotic and brilliant game of football we just witnessed. This match had everything. Spain absolutely dominated the early proceedings, looking every bit the world-class side they are, and deservedly took the lead through a smart finish from Dani Olmo. It felt like it could be a long night for Turkey.

But you have to give them immense credit. They weathered the storm. From our perspective, their resilience was incredible. They hung in there, defended for their lives, and then struck a sucker punch just before halftime to go in level. It completely changed the complexion of the game.

The second half was even more frantic. Turkey came out and snatched a shock lead with a brilliant strike, turning the game on its head. Spain, stung into action, responded almost immediately to level the scores again. The game ended as a frantic clash of styles, with Spanish possession versus Turkish grit, and ultimately, a draw felt like a fair, if breathless, result. The highest-rated player, Altay Bayındır, was simply sensational for the visitors.

Here are Spain Vs Turkey Player Ratings

Spain Player Ratings vs Turkey

Here are the Spain Player Ratings vs Turkey

Goalkeeper

Unai Simón - 7.0: A solid performance from the Spanish captain. He made five saves, some of which were crucial to keep his team from falling further behind. There was little he could do about either of the goals he conceded. We noticed his distribution was as reliable as ever, and he showed confidence claiming crosses under pressure. A decent night's work.

Defenders

Marcos Llorente - 7.0: A typically industrious display from Llorente. His energy up and down the right flank was relentless. What stood out to us was his passing accuracy, a staggering 97%, which kept Spain's attacks flowing smoothly. He was defensively sound, winning his tackles and contributing to the attack when he could. A real engine room on the flank.

Aymeric Laporte - 7.5: A commanding performance from the central defender. His 111 accurate passes show just how integral he was to building play from the back. He was a rock defensively, winning all his ground duels and looking unbeatable at times. From our perspective, he was a true leader, organizing the defence throughout the ninety minutes.

Pau Cubarsí - 6.5: A very composed showing for such a young player on a big stage. He handled the ball with incredible confidence, racking up 100 accurate passes. He was strong in his aerial duels too. However, the sheer pace of Turkey's counter-attacks seemed to trouble him on a couple of occasions, which is to be expected. A valuable learning experience.

Marc Cucurella - 7.0: His biggest contribution was the excellent assist for the equalizer, a moment of real quality. He was a constant presence on the left wing, always offering an outlet for his team. While his defensive work was mostly solid, he was caught forward once or twice. That assist really bumps up his rating for the night.

Midfielders

Mikel Merino - 5.5: This was a surprisingly poor performance, and we were disappointed. He just couldn't get a foothold in the game and struggled to make any impact. He lost possession a few times and it was no surprise to see him substituted at halftime. A day to forget for him.

Fabián Ruiz - 6.5: A mixed bag of a game. He was heavily involved, always trying to make something happen with his driving runs and shots from distance. However, he missed a clear-cut chance and his final ball was often lacking. You can't fault his effort, but the quality wasn't quite there.

Aleix García - 7.0: The metronome in the Spanish midfield. He completed an incredible number of passes, keeping possession and dictating the tempo of the game. His range of passing was impressive, though we felt he could have been more adventurous in the final third. A very solid and controlled performance.

Attackers

Dani Olmo - 8.0: Spain's most dangerous player by a mile, especially in the first half. He took his goal with supreme confidence and was a constant threat with his movement and creativity. He created two chances for his teammates as well. He did fade slightly in the second half but his overall impact was massive. Spain's best performer.

Yéremy Pino - 6.5: A frustrating performance. He was a creative spark, laying on four key passes for his teammates. But his own finishing let him down, and he squandered a big chance to score. He worked tirelessly but lacked the composure needed in front of goal. So involved, yet so ineffective in the end.

Mikel Oyarzabal - 7.5: He's a goalscorer, and he did his job. He was in the perfect place to tap in the crucial equalizer for his side. Before that moment, his performance was a bit patchy, as he missed a couple of other opportunities. But goals win points, and he delivered a vital one.

Manager

L. De la Fuente Castillo - 6.5: His team controlled the match for vast periods but looked worryingly vulnerable to the counter-attack. He will be frustrated to have conceded two goals against the general run of play. His substitutions were logical but failed to provide the spark needed to find a late winner.

Turkey Player Ratings vs Spain

Here are Turkey Player Ratings vs Spain

Goalkeeper

Altay Bayındır - 8.5: Simply sensational. He was the hero for Turkey. He made six saves, and a few of them were genuinely world-class stops that kept his team in the contest. From our perspective, he was the undisputed Man of the Match. An absolute wall between the sticks who earned his team a valuable point.

Defenders

Zeki Çelik - 6.5: A really solid, disciplined performance at right-back. He won every single one of his duels, which is incredible against Spain's tricky attackers. He didn't venture forward much, but his job was to defend, and he did it with determination and focus. A job well done.

Merih Demiral - 7.0: A true warrior's display from the captain. He was immense, making a staggering 11 clearances and putting his body on the line time and again. The yellow card and a minor error were the only blemishes on an otherwise dominant defensive performance. He led by example.

Çağlar Söyüncü - 6.5: He was just as busy as his defensive partner, making eight crucial clearances. He read the game well and stood his ground against the relentless Spanish pressure. He was strong, committed, and played a huge part in securing the draw for his team. A gritty display.

Samet Akaydin - 7.0: Another Turkish defender who deserves immense credit. He was a rock at the back, contributing with eight clearances and four interceptions. What stood out to us was his composure and strength in the tackle. A no-nonsense, highly effective performance.

Ferdi Kadıoğlu - 6.0: A quiet game by his standards. He worked diligently to help his team defensively but struggled to get involved in an attacking sense. He was steady and reliable without being spectacular before he was substituted. A functional performance.

Midfielders

Salih Özcan - 8.0: A magnificent all-action midfield performance. He scored a stunning goal from distance to give Turkey an unlikely lead. Beyond the goal, he was a disruptive force, constantly breaking up play with tackles and interceptions. A fantastic, game-changing contribution.

Orkun Kökçü - 8.0: The creative hub of the Turkish team. He provided a smart assist and created four chances in total, a constant threat with his passing and vision. His delivery from set-pieces caused all sorts of problems for the Spanish defence. We were incredibly impressed by his quality on the ball.

Barış Alper Yılmaz - 6.0: A night of hard work but little quality. He was a physical presence but lost the majority of his duels and was wasteful in possession. He had a few shots but never truly troubled the goalkeeper. His effort was there, but the execution was not.

İrfan Can Kahveci - 6.5: He showed some tidy touches and linked up play nicely when he got on the ball. He worked hard for the team but wasn't able to have a decisive impact on the game before being substituted. A steady, if unspectacular, shift.

Attackers

Deniz Gül - 7.5: He got the all-important first goal for Turkey, a real poacher's finish from a corner. That goal completely changed the game. He was a nuisance for the Spanish defenders with his work rate and physicality. A memorable performance defined by that crucial goal.

Manager

V. Montella - 7.5: His game plan was executed almost perfectly. He knew his team would have to suffer, and he set them up to be incredibly resilient and dangerous on the break. His players fought for him, took their chances clinically, and earned a fantastic point. He will be absolutely delighted with the character his team showed.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Bayındır