Villarreal 1-2 Ajax Player Ratings: Edvardsen's Late Strike Seals Comeback Win

Ajax produced a dramatic late comeback to secure a memorable 2-1 victory over Villarreal in a thrilling Champions League encounter at the Estadio de la Cerámica. What initially looked like a comfortable night for the hosts turned into a contest defined by momentum shifts and late drama.

Villarreal took control shortly after the restart when Tani Oluwaseyi fired home an excellent strike to give them the lead. At that stage, the home side appeared well placed to see the game out, managing possession and limiting Ajax’s influence.

The turning point arrived through a moment of individual brilliance. Oscar Gloukh stepped up to curl in a stunning free-kick, restoring parity and swinging momentum firmly in Ajax’s favour. From then on, the visitors played with renewed belief, pushing higher and testing Villarreal’s resolve.

The decisive moment came deep into the closing stages when substitute Oliver Edvardsen calmly finished to complete the turnaround, sealing a remarkable away win.

It was a classic European night, filled with drama and resilience from Ajax.

Here are Sportsdunua’s Villarreal vs Ajax Player Ratings from the Champions League clash.

Key Takeaways

Villarreal Player Ratings vs Ajax

Here's a look at the Villarreal Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Arnau Tenas - 6.0: We felt for Tenas tonight. He made a couple of decent saves and couldn't have done much about either goal. The free-kick from Gloukh was basically unstoppable. He distributed the ball reasonably well but was ultimately let down by his defence for the winning goal. A tough night to be a keeper.

Defenders

Rafa Marín - 6.5: A very mixed bag from Marín. He delivered a great assist for Oluwaseyi's goal which was a huge plus. However, he also picked up a yellow card and looked a bit frantic at times, conceding a few needless corners under pressure. He had 7 clearances but his indiscipline cost the team.

Renato Veiga - 6.0: A frustrating performance to watch. He was solid in the air and made some important clearances. But he was caught out of position for the winner. What really stood out to us was his missed header late on from a corner, a huge chance to equalize that he skied over the bar. It summed up a night of what-ifs for his team.

Santiago Mouriño - 5.5: Mouriño had a torrid time, particularly against Mika Godts. The stats show he was dribbled past five times, and it felt like more. He conceded the foul that led to Gloukh's stunning equalizer and rightly received a yellow card for it. While he won a lot of tackles, his rashness proved costly.

Sergi Cardona - 6.0: A quiet and steady game from Cardona. He was very tidy in possession with 95% pass accuracy and didn't make any glaring errors. However he didn't offer much going forward. An unremarkable but not necessarily poor performance.

Midfielders

Santi Comesaña - 6.5: The captain put in a real shift in the middle of the park. He won his tackles and tried to drive the team forward. We noticed he did lose the ball in some dangerous areas, though. A hardworking performance but he couldn't wrestle back control of the midfield in the second half.

Thomas Partey - 6.0: We expected more from a player of his caliber. He kept the ball moving but was largely anonymous. He didn't create anything of note and his main contribution was a cynical yellow card before being substituted. A disappointing outing.

Nicolas Pépé - 7.5: Pépé was Villarreal's most dangerous player before he was surprisingly taken off. He was a constant threat, taking six shots and causing all sorts of problems for the Ajax defence. He was a livewire, and the team looked less potent after his substitution.

Alberto Moleiro - 6.0: Played only the first half and was decent without being spectacular. He created a couple of chances and linked up play neatly. It was a surprise to see him hooked at halftime, as he hadn't done much wrong.

Forwards

Tani Oluwaseyi - 7.5: Scored a fantastic opening goal with a powerful shot from distance. He worked hard throughout, though his influence waned a bit as the game went on. His goal was a moment of real quality in an otherwise tough night for his team's attack.

Ayoze Pérez - 7.5: What stood out to us was his creativity. Pérez was the architect for Villarreal, creating four chances including two big ones. He was constantly looking for the killer pass and his movement was excellent. It was another surprise when he was substituted as he looked like the one most likely to create another goal.

Substitutes

Tajon Buchanan - 6.0: Came on at halftime but struggled to make a significant impact. He had a few runs but his final ball was lacking.

Gerard Moreno - 6.5: Brought some presence but missed a good chance and couldn't find the decisive moment.

Georges Mikautadze - 5.5: Barely noticed he was on the pitch. Offered very little after coming on.

Dani Parejo - 6.5: Added a bit of calm and quality on the ball, setting up a late chance for Veiga. Should have perhaps started.

Manager

M. García Toral - 5.5: From our perspective, his decisions were questionable. Taking off Pépé and Pérez, two of his most creative players, felt like a mistake that cost them the game. The team lost its attacking impetus and couldn't see out the lead. A poor night for the coach.

Ajax Player Ratings vs Villarreal

Let's take a look at the Ajax Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Vitezslav Jaros - 8.0: Jaros was excellent. He made six saves, including five from inside the box, to keep his team in the game. He couldn't do anything about the goal he conceded. His command of his area was impressive, and he was a key reason for the victory.

Defenders

Anton Gaaei - 7.5: A solid defensive performance capped off with the game-winning assist. He was composed on the ball and provided a constant outlet on the right flank. He created a big chance and his delivery for the winner was perfect. A great all-round display.

Owen Wijndal - 6.0: A difficult evening for Wijndal. He picked up an early yellow card and was a bit rash in the tackle. He did create two chances but also missed a big one himself. It wasn't a surprise to see him substituted.

Youri Baas - 7.0: Baas was a rock at the back. He had 100 touches, showing how involved he was in building from the back. He made six clearances and two interceptions, reading the game exceptionally well. A very reliable and composed performance.

Aaron Bouwman - 5.0: A night to forget for the defender. Despite his high pass accuracy, his game will be remembered for the critical error that led to Villarreal's goal. Such a mistake is unforgivable at this level, and it tarnishes his entire performance. He also got a booking to compound his misery.

Midfielders

Youri Regeer - 7.0: He was brilliant before an injury forced him off early in the second half. He was dominating the midfield, winning 8 of his 11 duels. He was a huge loss, but his team managed to cope.

Davy Klaassen - 7.0: The captain led by example with a calm and controlled performance. He was incredibly tidy in possession with 95% pass accuracy and created a couple of decent chances. He kept things ticking over and provided the stability his team needed.

Jorthy Mokio - 6.0: Mokio struggled to get into the game. He was dribbled past three times and lost most of his duels. He just couldn't impose his will on the midfield battle before being substituted. A learning experience for the young player.

Forwards

Kasper Dolberg - 6.5: A quiet game for the striker. He held the ball up well but failed to make an impact in the final third, missing the target with both his shots. He worked hard but it just wasn't his night in front of the goal.

Oscar Gloukh - 8.0: Scored an absolutely sensational free-kick to drag his team back into the match. That moment of magic changed the entire dynamic of the contest. He was a creative force throughout his time on the pitch. His goal was worthy of winning any game.

Mika Godts - 8.5: Our man of the match. What stood out to us was his fearlessness. He was a nightmare for the Villarreal defence, completing 7 dribbles and constantly taking players on. He won 10 duels and was the main attacking spark for Ajax all night. An electrifying performance.

Substitutes

Ko Itakura - 7.0: Came on for the injured Regeer and slotted in seamlessly, helping Ajax gain control of the midfield.

Rayane Bounida - 6.5: Looked lively and showed some nice touches after replacing Dolberg.

Sean Steur - 6.5: Did his job well, keeping possession and helping see out the game.

Kian Fitz-Jim - 6.5: Provided fresh legs and energy on the flank for the final few minutes.

Oliver Edvardsen - 8.0: The super sub. Came on and scored the winning goal with a composed finish. You can't ask for a better impact than that. A true game-changer.

Manager

F. Grim - 8.0: His game management was spot on. He recognized the need for change, and his substitutions were perfect. Bringing on Edvardsen, who scored the winner, was a masterstroke that won his team the three points.

Man of the Match

Mika Godts was Sportsdunia's man of the match.

Worst Performer

Aaron Bouwman was the worst performer in the Villarreal vs Ajax.