Atlético de Madrid 3-1 RCD Mallorca: Player Ratings

Grbić

Stepped in for the injured Jan Oblak, his first appearance in six months. Not much he could do on center-back Matija Nastasić’s 20th-minute header — Grbić cheated to the near post, but Mario Hermoso failed to cut out the corner delivery and Axel Witsel stood moored to the grass. 5

Molina

Thought he had won a 40th-minute penalty after Copete halted his slaloming run into the box and Iddrisu Baba hooked his arm, but referee Pulido Santana went to the VAR monitor and “corrected” himself. Molina then assisted Álvaro Morata’s go-ahead goal in the second half with a left-footed deep cross he stuck on the Spaniard’s head. 7.5

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Giménez

Physical off the ball and precise on it, misplacing only two passes in the first half. Hardly troubled by Mallorca’s bruising center-forward Vedat Muriqi, who began the game on the bench. 7

Witsel

Dropped into central defense to replace the injured Stefan Savić. His inattention allowed Nastasić to bop a free header into the net for the game’s opening goal. Later picked up a hockey assist for Morata’s 47th-minute goal in an eventful evening. 4.5

Hermoso

Atlético Madrid looked to dominate the game early, so Hermoso relished playing in a high defensive line. He looked at home in buildup — his cross for Antoine Griezmann helped create Atleti’s equalizer — but he was dragged out of position on the Nastasić goal. 6.5

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Carrasco

Drawn into an intriguing matchup with Mallorca right-back Pablo Maffeo and just about had the upper hand on the Spaniard, recording three key passes in the first half. Scored a vital insurance goal in the 78th minute, taking up a Griezmann pass into space, juking left then right on Rajković, and calmly sending the ball into the net. 8

Koke

The captain returned after a muscle issue ruled him out of Sunday’s clash with FC Barcelona. He stung Predrag Rajković’s palms with the game’s first shot, and a Mallorca defender blocked a fierce right-footed effort later on. As ever, ability to spot a pass (two chances created, 88 percent accuracy) and direct traffic makes him invaluable to Diego Simeone’s midfield, which makes less sense without him in it. 8

De Paul

Equalized on the stroke of halftime, when Morata let a rebound from Griezmann’s shot run and RdP popped the ball beyond a diving Rajković. Really good game, with three shot attempts and three key passes across his 67 touches. Surprising to see him subbed off. 7.5

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Lemar

Started consecutive games for the first time in over a month. Saw a long-range effort punched clear by Rajković but also a number of ball losses and poor decisions. At this point, his best virtue at this level is probably his defensive positioning. 4.5

Morata

A land of contrasts. Back in the starting 11 after consecutive substitute appearances, Morata was disinterested, pouty, and generally a step behind in the first half. Two minutes into the second half, he scored a towering header from a Nahuel Molina cross, then sent a classy backheel inches wide with 15 minutes left. 7.5

Griezmann

Miscommunication at a set piece left Nastasić free to head in the opening goal. Credited with an assist, his ninth in LaLiga, on Rodrigo de Paul’s equalizer in first-half stoppage time. Nabbed assist number #10 with an outside-the-boot pass into space for Yannick Carrasco after a Mallorca corner had been cleared. 8.5

Barrios

Replaced Lemar in the 63rd minute. Took up de Paul’s place on the right of midfield. Smooth and aesthetically-pleasing to watch on the ball. 5.5

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Saúl

Replaced de Paul in the 63rd minute. Went to the left side in place of Thomas Lemar. Quiet but sturdy performance in midfield, and helped out defensively with a couple clearances. 6

Kondogbia

Replaced Koke in the 79th minute. His first appearance in nearly three months (!), won the ball back with gusto on a couple occasions. N/A

Correa

Replaced Morata in the 79th minute. Covered a lot of ground in a short time, turning and slipping out of trouble when on the ball too. N/A