Villarreal 2-3 Copenhagen Player Ratings: Thrilling Encounter Ends 2-3

What a rollercoaster of a match this was in the Champions League. It was an absolute spectacle for the neutral fan. Goals flew in from everywhere. Copenhagen stunned the home crowd by taking an early lead. Mohamed Elyounoussi was the man to get the party started just two minutes in.

From our perspective, Villarreal looked shell-shocked but fought their way back. The second half exploded with action. Three goals were scored in just the first eleven minutes of the half. It was a chaotic, end-to-end affair that was impossible to predict.

The momentum swung back and forth like a pendulum. Villarreal equalized twice through Santi Comesaña and a substitute. But FC Copenhagen simply refused to lie down. The game was ultimately decided by the brilliance of the visiting side's substitutes. It was a tactical battle where the away manager came out on top, securing a memorable victory on the road.

Here are Villarreal Vs Copenhagen Player Ratings

Copenhagen Player Ratings vs Villarreal

Here are Copenhagen Player Ratings vs Villarreal

Goalkeeper

Dominik Kotarski - 6.5: He conceded two goals but you can't really fault him for either. He made three saves, including two crucial stops from inside the box. What stood out to us was his composure under pressure. His distribution was decent enough, finding a teammate 68% of the time. A solid, if not spectacular, evening for the keeper.

Defenders

Gabriel Pereira - 6.0: The captain had a bit of a tough time. He made a whopping seven clearances, which shows how much pressure the defense was under. However, he was dribbled past twice and only won a quarter of his duels. From our perspective, he seemed a step off the pace. It just wasn't his best night.

Marcos López - 7.0: A really mixed performance from the fullback. He grabbed an important assist and looked dangerous going forward, creating a big chance. On the flip side, he lost possession an eye-watering 21 times. That's a huge number. His attacking contribution bumps his rating up, but he was a liability at times.

Junnosuke Suzuki - 7.5: We thought he was immense at the back. He won 80% of his aerial duels and made seven crucial clearances. He was calm on the ball with 89% pass accuracy. He blocked three shots, putting his body on the line for the team. A fantastic defensive display that was key to the win.

Yoram Zague - 6.5: A decent outing before he was forced off with an injury. He provided an assist for a big chance created. He did lose the ball 15 times which was a concern. But his contribution in the final third was valuable. A shame his night ended early.

Midfielders

Jordan Larsson - 6.5: A very quiet game for him. He worked hard and his passing was tidy, but he struggled to impose himself on the match. He won a few duels but was also dispossessed twice. An industrious but ultimately forgettable performance from our point of view.

M. Madsen - 6.5: He was solid in the middle of the park. Kept possession well with 90% pass accuracy and had a shot on target. Defensively, however, he was dribbled past three times. He did his job before being substituted in the 82nd minute.

William Clem - 6.5: A tidy performance in central midfield. His long passing was a highlight, completing four of his five attempts. He made a couple of interceptions and clearances. It was an understated but effective display, helping to link defense and attack.

Forwards

Mohamed Elyounoussi - 8.5: What a player. For us, he was the best player on the pitch. He scored one goal and assisted another, showing his clinical edge. His movement and link-up play were top-notch. He was the highest-rated player for a reason, a truly sensational performance that set the tone for his team.

Viktor Bjarki Dadason - 7.0: This guy was a real handful. He won an incredible eight duels, showing his physical prowess. He was an absolute nightmare for the Villarreal defenders to deal with. He didn't score but his work rate and ability to hold up the ball were invaluable before he was subbed.

Robert - 6.0: An anonymous first half for the attacker. He only played the first 45 minutes and had just 21 touches. He had a couple of shots but never really looked like scoring. It wasn't a surprise to see him taken off at halftime.

Substitutes

Elias Achouri - 8.0: Talk about an impact sub. He came on at halftime and scored just three minutes later. His energy and direct running completely changed the dynamic of the game. A brilliant cameo.

Andreas Cornelius - 8.0: The hero of the night. Came on and scored the dramatic 90th-minute winner with a fantastic strike. That's what you want from your striker. A game-winning contribution that sent the away fans into ecstasy.

Manager

J. Neestrup Hansen - 8.5: A tactical masterclass. His substitutions won his team the game. Bringing on Achouri and Cornelius proved to be inspired decisions. He saw what his team needed and made the perfect changes. Absolutely deserves the credit.

Villarreal Player Ratings vs Copenhagen

Goalkeeper

Luiz Júnior - 5.5: A night to forget for the goalkeeper. Conceding three goals is never good, and he only made a single save all game. He couldn't be blamed for all the goals, but you expect your keeper to bail you out at least once. It just didn't happen for him.

Defenders

Rafa Marín - 6.0: He was incredibly busy, making six interceptions which is a very high number. However, he struggled in the air, losing four of his six aerial duels. Part of a backline that looked disjointed and conceded three times. A mixed bag of a performance.

Renato Veiga - 6.0: His long-range passing was a weapon, completing 12 long balls. But he struggled defensively, being dribbled past once and losing possession 10 times. He was caught offside twice too. Not the most solid defensive display.

Alfonso Pedraza - 7.5: The captain really tried to drag his team forward. He grabbed an assist and created three chances, constantly providing an outlet on the left. He was also solid defensively, winning six of his seven duels. It’s a shame his excellent performance was on the losing side.

Pau Navarro - 7.0: From our perspective, he was one of Villarreal's better players. He was dominant in his duels, winning seven of them. He was strong in the tackle and comfortable on the ball. A very impressive showing from the defender despite the result.

Midfielders

Santi Comesaña - 7.0: He got the all-important equalising goal. He battled hard in midfield and had a few shots. His main struggle was in the air, winning only one of his seven aerial duels. Still, scoring a goal in a big game is a major contribution.

Tajon Buchanan - 6.5: He looked lively during his 45 minutes on the pitch. He created a couple of chances and his pace caused problems. We were a little surprised to see him substituted at halftime. He showed some promising flashes.

Pape Gueye - 6.0: A really chaotic performance. He was everywhere, making five tackles and winning 10 duels. But he was also sloppy, losing possession 14 times and picking up a booking. It was an all-action display, but lacked control and composure.

Alberto Moleiro - 6.0: A frustrating night for the midfielder. He tried to make things happen but his execution was off, completing only 52% of his passes. He lost the ball 14 times. You could see the intent, but the quality wasn't there before he was subbed.

Forwards

Georges Mikautadze - 5.5: He was completely invisible in the first half. With just 13 touches, he was a passenger in the game. It was no surprise when he was taken off at the break. A very disappointing showing.

Nicolas Pépé - 6.0: Much like his attacking partners, he struggled to make an impact. He did create one big chance, but that was his only notable contribution. For a player of his talent, we expected much, much more. Subbed at halftime.

Substitutes

Ayoze Pérez - 6.5: He was busy after coming on. He got into good positions but couldn't provide the finishing touch, missing a good headed chance late on.

Ilias Akhomach - 6.0: Added some energy but was a bit wild. Picked up a yellow card and his end product was poor.

Tani Oluwaseyi - 7.5: What an introduction. He scored a goal and set up another great chance. He looked like Villarreal's most dangerous player after coming on. A fantastic cameo.

Manager

M. García Toral - 6.5: His halftime changes were bold and they worked, as Tani Oluwaseyi made a huge impact. However, he failed to address the defensive vulnerabilities that plagued his team all game. Conceding right at the end after fighting back twice will be a bitter pill to swallow.

Sportsdunia's player of the match is Elyounoussi