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Player Ratings: Celta Vigo 1-2 Atlético Madrid

Correa’s doblete sealed three points in a frantic opening game.

RC Celta de Vigo v Club Atletico de Madrid - LaLiga Santander Photo by Juan Manuel Serrano Arce/Getty Images

Jan Oblak, GK

A rare mishap just before the hour when he failed to grab a Celta Vigo free kick — Iago Aspas was able to control the ball and shoot it off Llorente’s stomach and hands. He then converted the subsequent penalty. 4.5

José Giménez, CB

Authoritative and adventurous. Won five headers and made three clearances, and he completed 92 percent of his passes along with two dribbles. The team is simply better when he’s healthy. 7.5

Stefan Savić, CB

Led all players with five clearances and had a tap-in from a corner cleared off the line in the first half. Steady performance. 7

RC Celta de Vigo v Club Atletico de Madrid - La Liga Santander Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Mario Hermoso, CB

Notched a hockey assist on Correa’s 23rd minute goal but struggled mightily in individual duels — he also committed a careless error leading to an Iago Aspas chance in the first half. Hermoso was eventually sent off well into stoppage time for a scrap with Hugo Mallo. 4.5

Marcos Llorente, RWB

Not a natural right back, which showed as the game moved along. Full of energy and defensive activity in the first half, but he belongs playing higher up the pitch. Llorente wore down after halftime and gave away a dubious penalty that Aspas duly rolled home in the 59th minute. Lodi ultimately replaced him. 5

Saúl Ñíguez, LWB

He may not want to be at the club right now, let alone play left wingback, but Sául put in a professional performance on Sunday and registered an assist on the winning goal. He passed accurately and was aggressive in the tackle. 7.5

RC Celta de Vigo v Club Atletico de Madrid - La Liga Santander Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Koke, CM

Typically busy day for the captain, though not overly involved...until he played the pass into space for Saúl before Correa’s 64th minute goal. Kieran Trippier replaced him immediately after said goal. 6

Geoffrey Kondogbia, CM

Immense. Showcased fabulous press resistance and made nine recoveries in the first half alone. He finished the match with six completed dribbles and 87 percent passing accuracy, moving the ball quicker and with more purpose. The competition in Atlético Madrid’s midfield is intense and will stay that way if Kondogbia performs like this. 9

RC Celta de Vigo v Club Atletico de Madrid - La Liga Santander Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Thomas Lemar, CM

Led the counterattack that ended in Correa’s opening goal, on which he grabbed an assist. Still looks comfortable in the 3-5-2 formation, where he can drift centrally and take more touches. His decision-making has really improved over the past year, too. 7

Ángel Correa, FW

Picked up exactly where he left off last season. Correa took two touches and drilled Atlético’s first goal past Matías Dituro on 23 minutes before restoring the team’s lead with a perfectly-placed eventual winner four minutes after the hour. Pretty obvious that everything is clicking for Correa as he reaches peak age, and his importance to Atlético is reaching a critical level. 10

Yannick Carrasco, FW

Wasn’t a center forward in 2015 and still isn’t. Carrasco was wasteful in this match and his touch was a bit too heavy. He missed a 95th minute chance to wrap up the match as Dituro stopped him from close range. 4.5


Luis Suárez, FW

Entered for Correa in the 65th minute. Still getting into a rhythm following an extended vacation. No real chances, but in the fourth minute of stoppage time he went down twice under pressure from Hugo Mallo, leading to a full-scale brawl and a red card for the Celta captain. He gets brownie points for that. 6

RC Celta de Vigo v Club Atletico de Madrid - La Liga Santander Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images

Rodrigo De Paul, CM

Entered for Lemar in the 65th minute. Quiet debut for LaLiga’s most expensive signing this summer. He buzzed around and played on both left and right sides, but didn’t really impact the match. 5.5

Kieran Trippier, RB

Entered for Koke in the 65th minute. Also working to rediscover his rhythm after a summer holiday and wasn’t great with the ball at his feet. 5

Renan Lodi, LWB

Entered for Llorente in the 81st minute. Not the best showcase for him, given Atlético were trying to hang onto the lead. N/A

Šime Vrsaljko

Entered for Carrasco in the 96th minute. Diego Simeone turned to the Croatian after the stoppage time brawl and Hermoso red card to strengthen the team’s defense. N/A

Poll

Mattress Maker of the Match at Celta:

This poll is closed

  • 29%
    Kondogbia
    (87 votes)
  • 67%
    Correa
    (200 votes)
  • 2%
    Saúl
    (8 votes)
  • 0%
    Giménez
    (2 votes)
297 votes total Vote Now