Atletico Madrid failed to get their La Liga title bid off to a winning start as Rodrigo earned Valencia a 1-1 draw at the Mestalla Stadium on Monday.

Angel Correa gave Diego Simeone’s visitors a 26th-minute lead, but Rodrigo struck in the second half for the home team and last season’s runners-up Atletico failed to find a winner.

Here, we rate both sides.

VALENCIA 4-4-2

Neto 7: Did very well to repel a low strike from Costa and had few other saves to make, but dealt well with whatever came his way.

Piccini 6: Did a decent defensive job against Lemar but couldn’t get forward much and lost concentration to play Correa onside for the opener.

Garay 6: Slightly lucky to stay on the pitch after committing a professional foul on Costa, but soon had to leave through injury.

Gabriel 7: Occasionally struggled with Costa’s pace and power but made a few timely interventions, including a key late goalmouth clearance.

Gaya 6: Found himself in trouble with Correa’s sharp movement early on, but improved as the game progressed and kept going to the end.

Soler 5: The least effective of the midfielders on show, with little involvement. Had one chance to shoot but dragged it well wide. Substituted.

Kondogbia 7: Did a good job defensively by breaking up several attacks, despite often finding himself outnumbered in the first half as Atletico swept forward.

Parejo 6: Couldn’t get on the ball or influence the game too much, but worked so hard defensively he collapsed with cramp near the end.

Wass 6: Had the first shot of the game but fired over. Teed up Rodrigo for the equaliser and nearly won it with a late low strike.

Mina 5: Anonymous in the centre forward position, unable to either link play or provide a presence inside the penalty area. Substituted for Gameiro.

Rodrigo 8: Always Valencia’s biggest threat, crashing one fierce strike over the bar and sending another just wide before thumping home the leveller.

SUBSTITUTES

Gameiro 6: Came on for his Valencia debut against his former club and could have won it at the death, but his shot lacked power.

Diakhaby 6: Not particularly convincing after replacing Garay, but just managed to get himself in the right place. Poor use of the ball.

Batshuayi 6: Another debutant from the bench, the on-loan Chelsea man worked hard and caused some problems for Atletico but lacked finesse.

ATLETICO MADRID 4-4-2

Oblak 7: Commanding whenever he was called upon, including two late saves to deny Wass – a very good stop – and former teammate Gameiro.

Juanfran 7: Methodical and progressive down the right wing, combining with Correa before the Atletico goalscorer tired in the second half.

Savic 7: Untroubled at the back and comfortably had the measure of Mina. Sent a decent headed chance wide from a corner.

Godin 6: A generally strong display of old-school defending but blotted his copybook by getting drawn out of position for the equaliser.

Luis 7: Prominent in the early stages and continued to offer constructive attacking play in what could have been his last Atletico appearance.

Correa 7: Full of confidence from the opening whistle, and netted the opener with calm assurance. Faded after the break and was replaced.

Koke 7: An understated but always available presence in the middle of the pitch, sending some dangerous balls into the box.

Saul 8: Oozed class in the centre of midfield, directing play with composed passing. Rifled a late free-kick over the top from 25 yards.

Lemar 5: Quiet on his league debut, defending well and making the occasional threatening burst but lacking penetration. Replaced after the break.

Griezmann 6: Linked play well, especially with a brilliant disguised reverse pass to Correa for the opener, but still short of fitness and was substituted.

Costa 7: Terrorised Valencia in the first half, snatching at early chance and forcing a great save with a fierce drive. Less effective towards the end.

SUBSTITUTES

Vitolo 6: Sent on for Lemar down the left and contributed well, producing some powerful dribbles but couldn’t quite combine with Costa.

Martins 5: Another league debutant, the Portuguese winger showed some skill with his slick ball work but had no end product.

Partey 5: Off the pace after entering the fray, struggling to find the same wavelength as his teammates and offering little.