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.
Angel Correa gave Diego Simeone's visitors a 26th-minute lead on Monday, but Rodrigo struck in the second half for the home team and last season's runners-up Atletico failed to find a winner.
There are high hopes at the Wanda Metropolitano that Atletico can muster a serious title challenge, after keeping their key players in the close season and claiming an impressive extra-time win over city rivals Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup last week.
But they were given a tough test to start the campaign at a strong Valencia outfit who will be playing in the Champions league this season for the first time since 2015 after finishing fourth.
"It's a shame because we wanted to bring the win home and we didn't manage it," the 23-year-old Correa, who also scored in Atletico's opening league game 12 months ago against Girona, told BeIN Sports Spain.
Simeone gave a la liga debut to Thomas lemar, who joined from Monaco for 72 million euros ($84 million) in July, but the French World Cup winner struggled to make an impression and was hauled off in the 63rd minute.
Atletico moved ahead midway through the first period with a wonderfully-crafted goal.
But in the 56th minute Rodrigo lashed home right-footed after controlling Daniel Wass's looping header on his chest.