Atletico Madrid's season got off to an entertaining start as they battled out an entertaining 1-1 draw at Valencia on Monday.
Los Rojiblancos started strongly and deservedly took the lead through Angel Correa in the first half, however after the break their 120 minutes of exertions in Tallinn in midweek in the Super Cup took a toll as they dropped deeper and deeper, with Rodrigo eventually equalising for Los Che.
The match swung back and forth in the final 10, with both teams having ample chances to win it, but a draw just about seemed a fair result in the end.
Positives
Having been awarded arguably the hardest possible away game they could have got to start the season, to come away without defeat -- especially after the extra-time Super Cup -- was always the main objective and in that the team succeeded.
Negatives
Gave up far too many opportunities that on another day would have been punished. The Diego Godin-Stefan Savic axis continues to look untenable.
Manager rating out of 10
7 -- Diego Simeone went with an attacking setup, probably to try and blow Valencia away early on, but Los Rojiblancos could just not get the second goal to reward the gamble.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Jan Oblak, 7 -- Made two pivotal saves at the death to ensure Atleti came away with a point.
DF Juanfran 7 .. Solid, if unspectacular throughout. Almost set up a second for Correa just after the break.
DF Stefan Savic, 6 -- Looks to have regained coach's confidence in preseason while Jose Maria Gimenez was away. Dived in early on and got booked and had to walk a tightrope throughout which, to his credit, he did well enough.
DF Diego Godin, 6 -- Caught uncharacteristically out of position for Rodrigo's equaliser. He simply does not look comfortable next to Savic.
DF Filipe Luis, 7 -- If this transpires to be his final game for the club it was a microcosm of his time at Atleti. Solid in defence, always willing and available going forwards and at times looked his side's most dangerous player.
MF Angel Correa, 8 -- Showed brilliant composure to open the scoring. Attack-wise was Los Colchoneros' most-dangerous player.
MF Saul Niguez, 6 -- Struggled to get involved in the large part but worked tirelessly as he always does. Wasted a decent free-kick chance in the dying seconds.
MF Koke, 7 -- His set piece delivery was somewhere near its best. Was the better of the duo in the middle of the park but too often they were outnumbered by Valencia's trio.
MF Thomas Lemar 5 -- Unable to build on his promising midweek debut, but can be excused for looking leggy given his World Cup campaign plus the trip to Estonia. Hooked on the hour.
FW Antoine Griezmann, 8 -- Still looks a little jaded from his World Cup exploits, however produced the game's standout moment with his pass to feed Correa for the opener. Probably the only player on the pitch who could have done that.
FW Diego Costa, 7 -- Fought for everything, as you would expect. Was inches away from adding a second on more than one occasion but it just was not to be his night.
Substitutes:
MF Vitolo (for Lemar), 7 -- Was lively for his half-hour cameo and looks to be reaping the dividends of a full preseason under Simeone.
FW Gelson Martins (for Griezmann), NR -- A few moments of promise down the right but final ball was lacking.
MF Thomas Partey (for Correa), NR -- Looks like he will operate further up the field this season and played as a conventional No. 10 for the final few minutes.