ATLETICO MADRID
Leo Franco – 6: Only had a few routine saves to make. Did look a bit shaky with high balls and crosses.
Perea – 7.5: Made at least two or three vital interceptions and tackles in the centre of defence. Didn’t have too much to do down the right and spent most of the evening as an extra centreback.
Heitinga – 7: Nervous defending from the Dutchman initially but as the game wore on he grew more confident.
Ujfalusi – 6: A very subdued performance. Quietly stayed back to tidy up any loose balls. Made no more than two tackles the entire game.
Pernia – 7: A real menace in attack. Constantly overlapping down the left wing to help out in attack. Took a few cracks at goals from distance, but he didn’t have his shooting boots on this evening. Wasn’t troubled too much defensively.
Maxi–7.5: Very involved in attack. Combined well with his fellow midfielders and always available to play that extra short pass to carve up the Betis defence. Scored a cracking opening goal and could have had at least another from an identical set-up.
Assuncao – 7: Made an absolutely critical block on the goal line late in the first half to ensure Atleti go into the break in the lead. Made an equally crucial tackle early in the second half, albeit it almost ended with an own goal.
Maniche – 8.5: Commanded the midfield, if not the entire game, brilliantly. Directed almost every single one of Atletico’s attacks and an ever-present threat himself with his overlapping runs into the box. Assisted Maxi’s opener with a delightful chipped through ball.
Simao – 6.5: A very quiet first half display. Picked up his game in the second half and looked very energetic for a brief period with his darting runs down the left wing.
Aguero – 8: Almost impossible to stop whenever he had the ball. Drifted all across the midfield to open up spaces and create chances for his teammates. Rarely seen inside the box but on the rare occasion he was there, he finished with aplomb.
Forlan – 6.5: Looked off-colour in the first half. Didn’t find himself with too many scoring chances. Played an exquisite through ball on the turn to set up El Kun’s goal.
Substitutes:
Raul Garcia – 6: Brought it to strengthen the midfield and he did his job to stifle Betis’ late charge.
Banega – 5: Like Raul Garcia, he was introduced merely to tighten up the middle of the park after the points were secured.
Luis Garcia–N/A
REAL BETIS
Casto – 6.5: Failed to cut down the angle at his near post and allowed Maxi to score the opener. But he made up for it with a series of excellent, brave saves. Nothing much he could have done about the second goal.
Nelson – 6: Had a fascinating battle with his compatriot Simao down the right flank. Bombarded the opposing half frequently in the first period but penned back in the second. A cynical foul on Simao got him booked, which may have influenced his coach’s decision to substitute him.
Arzu – 6.5: Kept it very tight at the back and combined well with Juanito. Shadowed Forlan closely throughout the evening and barely allowed him any space or time to shot infront of goal.
Juanito – 6: Marshalled his defence well whenever Atletico attacked and co-ordinated the backline to perfection early in the game to draw the offside call on numerous occasions. But that gamble ultimately backfired as both of Atleti’s goals came from through balls which split the staticrearguard.
Fernando Vega – 6.5: Streamed forward generously and . Pumped in a few threatening crosses, especially from set pieces, none of which his teammates could finish.
Capi – 5: Played as the link-up man between defence and offence but his impact was minimal. Wasted numerous attacking build-up with stray passes and overhit through balls.
Aurelio – 6.5: Worked hard all night and recovered a number of balls for Betis in midfield but he was no match for Maniche and Assuncao.
Damia – 5: Often a threat with his crosses, he was largely anonymous throughout the contest and hardly made a telling contribution. Doubled as a rightback after Nelson was withdrawn.
Emana – 7: Drew countless fouls and hardly given any time on the ball. Had to drop deep into his own half to win possession and wasn’t allowed to show his true attacking potential.
Juanma –6: Very lively and dangerous down the left. Constantly bombarded the Atleti goal with crosses and cutbacks and he even had a few decent scoring chances of his own.
Sergio Garcia – 5: Playing as the lone frontman, he drifted in and out of the game. Spurned at least three glorious scoring opportunities.
Substitutes:
Xisco – 5.5: Momentarily sparked Betis’ attack to life when he came on for Nelson. But his influence quickly waned as the Atleti defence tightened up.
Segura – 6: Had a chance to draw level for Betis in the second half when his looping header past Leo Franco just missed the target by inches at the back post.
Melli – N/A
KS Leong, Goal.com
Player Ratings: Villarreal 4-4 Atlético de Madrid
Relentless RSL attack pays off at end
