Valencia 1-2 Athletic Club Player Ratings: Williams' Late Winner Seals Fascinating Win

Athletic Club and Valencia delivered a proper Copa del Rey spectacle at the Estadio de Mestalla, a tie that refused to settle until the very last kick of the night. The visitors eventually emerged with a dramatic late victory, but this was a match defined by chaos, momentum swings, and sheer unpredictability.

The opening half belonged to Umar Sadiq in the most bizarre way imaginable. First, he endured a nightmare moment, turning the ball into his own net to hand Athletic Club the lead. Yet football has a strange sense of balance.

Just minutes later, Sadiq redeemed himself, reacting quickest inside the box to bundle home the equaliser. Mestalla barely had time to catch its breath.

After the break, the game became increasingly stretched. Valencia struggled to impose control as Athletic Club pushed higher and grew in confidence. A missed penalty for the visitors felt like a huge let-off for the hosts, but it only delayed the inevitable. The introduction of Nico and Iñaki Williams shifted the entire rhythm of the contest.

Their pace terrified the Valencia backline, and deep into stoppage time, that pressure finally told. Iñaki Williams’ clinical finish in the 96th minute broke home hearts and sparked wild celebrations in the away end.

It was a brutal ending for Valencia and a reminder of how ruthless knockout football can be. Let’s take a look at Sportsdunia’s Valencia vs Athletic Club player ratings from this unforgettable Copa del Rey clash.

Key Takeaways

• An early own goal handed Athletic the lead before Sadiq quickly redeemed himself with a scrappy equaliser, setting the chaotic tone.
• Nico and Iñaki Williams’ introduction injected pace and fear, completely shifting momentum in Athletic Club’s favour.
• After a missed penalty and sustained pressure, Iñaki Williams’ 96th-minute winner sealed a brutal Copa del Rey exit for Valencia.

Valencia Player Ratings vs Athletic Club

Let's have a look at the Valencia Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Stole Dimitrievski - 7.5: We thought he was excellent despite conceding two goals. The penalty save was a standout moment of pure goalkeeping instinct, giving his team a massive psychological boost at the time. He was confident, claiming high balls and couldn't be faulted for the late winner. His distribution was a bit hit-and-miss, but his shot-stopping was top-notch when called upon.

Defenders

Dimitri Foulquier - 6.0: A frustrating night for the fullback. He was solid enough for parts of the game but that big chance he missed in the second half was a real head-in-hands moment. He got into a great position but couldn't provide the finish. Defensively, he was caught out of position a couple of times but made a few important tackles.

Eray Cömert - 6.0: Looked shaky and indecisive. While he racked up seven clearances, what stood out to us was his lack of composure on the ball. He seemed rushed in possession, leading to losing the ball 14 times. He was bullied a bit by the opposition forwards and didn't command the backline as we'd expect.

José Copete - 6.5: It's a shame his night was cut short by injury just before the hour mark. Until then, he was having a decent game, looking comfortable and making some key interventions. He was tidy in possession and contributed a crucial blocked shot. His departure definitely unsettled the defense.

Jesús Vázquez - 6.0: A difficult evening for Vázquez. We noticed he was dribbled past three times, which is always a worrying sign for a fullback. He struggled to contain the threat down his flank. While he showed good energy getting forward and recovered the ball well, his defensive frailties were exposed too often.

Midfielders

Pepelu - 7.0: The captain led by example with his sheer work rate. He was everywhere in the midfield, breaking up play with five tackles and trying to drive his team forward. However, he also lost possession a bit too frequently for our liking. It was a combative, all-action performance that just lacked a bit of quality in the final third.

Filip Ugrinic - 6.5: Tidy and efficient without being spectacular. He kept the ball moving with an impressive 95% pass accuracy, but we felt he was a bit too safe. He didn't offer much penetration or creativity, playing a lot of sideways and backward passes. A solid, if unspectacular, outing before being subbed off late on.

Luis Rioja - 7.0: One of Valencia's brightest sparks in attack. He was a constant creative outlet, delivering three key passes and looking dangerous with his crossing. He always wanted the ball and tried to make things happen. His final product wasn't always perfect, but his intent was positive throughout.

Forwards

Arnaut Danjuma - 6.5: A quiet game from Danjuma, who struggled to impose himself. He showed a few nice touches and successful dribbles but was largely on the periphery of the action. He worked hard off the ball but couldn't find the space to be a real threat. A performance that promised more than it delivered.

Umar Sadiq - 6.0: What a bizarre performance. To score an own goal and then a proper goal within ten minutes is almost unbelievable. The own goal was clumsy, but his response was fantastic, showing great strikers instinct to be in the right place. However, he was caught offside three times and his overall play was erratic before he was subbed.

Lucas Beltrán - 6.5: He put in a real shift, battling for every ball and winning a good number of his duels. He drew several fouls and was a general nuisance. However, he was dispossessed three times and his influence in the final third waned as the game went on. A hard-working but ultimately fruitless evening.

Substitutes

César Tárrega - 5.5: Came on for the injured Copete and looked a bit overwhelmed. Conceding the corner that led to the penalty review didn't help his confidence.

Hugo Duro - 6.0: Added energy but didn't see much of the ball in dangerous areas.

Diego López - N/A: Not on long enough to make a significant impact.

Largie Ramazani - N/A: Brought on late to inject pace but had little time.

Guido Rodríguez - N/A: A late sub for the injured Ugrinic.

Manager

C. Corberán Vallet - 6.0: His team showed fight to get back into the game, but they looked defensively vulnerable. The decision to not change things sooner when Athletic Club was gaining momentum could be questioned. The late collapse will be a huge point of frustration for him and his staff.

Athletic Club Player Ratings vs Valencia

Let's delve into the Athletic Club Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Álex Padilla - 4.5: A very nervy performance. His error leading to Valencia's goal was a moment he'll want to forget, a real gift. It completely undermined any good work he did. He looked shaky with the ball at his feet and his mistake put his team under unnecessary pressure. A tough day at the office.

Defenders

Andoni Gorosabel - 6.5: A workhorse performance. He was up and down the right flank all game, contributing five tackles. However, he was beaten a few times and his duel success rate was lower than you'd like. A mixed but energetic display from the defender.

Iker Monreal - 8.0: From our perspective, he was a rock at the back. He dominated in the air, winning five aerial duels, and made a staggering eight clearances. He read the game beautifully and was a calming presence. An outstanding defensive display that was crucial to his team's success.

Aymeric Laporte - 6.5: A typically composed performance before he was surprisingly substituted. He was clean in the tackle and comfortable in possession. He didn't put a foot wrong and his substitution seemed tactical rather than performance-based. Solid as ever.

Iñigo Lekue - 6.5: The captain had a steady if unspectacular game. He was good on the ball, with high passing accuracy. Defensively, he was a bit suspect at times, getting dribbled past twice. A decent performance overall, but not his most commanding.

Midfielders

Mikel Vesga - 6.0: He struggled to get a foothold in the midfield battle and was subbed off before the hour. He worked hard and won a few duels but was bypassed too easily on occasion. Not his most influential game by any stretch.

Mikel Jauregizar - 5.5: A night of what could have been. He was a machine in terms of ball recovery, winning it back 13 times. But a player is often remembered for the big moments, and his missed penalty was a massive one. It was a poor effort and it almost cost his team dearly.

Robert Navarro - 8.0: Before he was substituted, he was arguably the best player on the pitch. He was a creative force, completing three successful dribbles and creating two chances. He was lively, intelligent, and a constant problem for the Valencia defense. It was a surprise to see him taken off.

Selton Sánchez - 5.5: A really anonymous performance. He lost possession 13 times in just 70 minutes and offered very little going forward. He seemed off the pace and was rightly substituted. A day to forget for the midfielder.

Forwards

Nico Serrano - 7.5: A very bright and dangerous performance. He was always willing to take players on and had a few decent shots on goal. His energy and directness were a real asset, even if his final ball was sometimes lacking. A promising display full of attacking intent.

Urko Izeta - 6.5: He led the line with physicality, winning an impressive number of duels. He was a handful for the defenders but lacked any real cutting edge in front of goal. A tireless worker who sacrificed himself for the team before being subbed.

Substitutes

Iñaki Williams - 8.5: Man of the Match. What an impact. He came on and did what he does best: used his pace to get in behind and scored a clinical, dramatic winner. A textbook super-sub performance.

Nico Williams - 8.0: Just as impactful as his brother. He provided the crucial assist for the winning goal after a blistering counter-attack. His introduction completely changed the game.

Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta - 7.0: Brought control and composure to the midfield when he came on.

Yuri Berchiche - 6.5: Solid and dependable after his introduction.

Gorka Guruzeta - 6.5: Held the ball up well and drew fouls.

Manager

E. Valverde - 8.0: His substitutions were game-changing. Bringing on both Williams brothers was a stroke of genius that won his team the match. He saw his team was struggling to find a breakthrough and made bold, decisive changes that paid off spectacularly. A tactical masterclass.

Man of the Match

Iñaki Williams was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Álex Padilla had a poor game, making an error that directly led to Valencia's goal.