February was not the best month for Atletico Madrid. Goalless draws in La Liga and the UEFA Champions League against Villarreal and PSV Eindhoven, respectively, may turn out to be the moments that spoiled their season.

However, the month finished with a euphoric derby victory away at Real Madrid, and most Atletico fans will be happy with being second in the league, four points ahead of their archrivals.

Here are the results for February, followed by Atletico's five best players during the month.

Feb 6: Atletico Madrid 3-1 Eibar (La Liga)
Feb 14: Getafe 0-1 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)
Feb 21: Atletico Madrid 0-0 Villarreal (La Liga)
Feb 24: PSV Eindhoven 0-0 Atletico Madrid (Champions League)
Feb 27: Real Madrid 0-1 Atletico Madrid (La Liga)

5. Gabi

While other Atletico Madrid players have been injured and suspended, captain Gabi has played every minute in February.

Atletico's defence has been excellent, conceding just one goal in the entire month, and that's partly down to the job Gabi and Co. do in midfield.

The veteran midfielder is 32 but shows no signs of slowing down, playing a key role this season—as he did in 2013-14, when Atletico won the league.

His best performance came against PSV, a game he dominated, although he could not help his team find a breakthrough.

4. Fernando Torres

It's been a long while since Fernando Torres could be included in a top-five players of the month list. Perhaps not even since his Liverpool days.

However, he was the club's top goalscorer in February, netting twice.

The first goal came against Eibar, ending his drought and finally grabbing his 100th in an Atletico shirt.

That was the third in a 3-1 win, but his next goal was more crucial. Torres scored the only goal of the game against Getafe.

On top of that, he worked hard against Villarreal and Real Madrid, helping Atletico keep the ball in attacking areas against Los Blancos.

3. Filipe Luis

Since returning from Chelsea, something hasn't quite been right with Filipe Luis.

He seems slower than he used to be, both physically and even in terms of his decision-making. However, bit by bit, he is recovering his old form.

This has been his best month in an Atletico shirt, with the 30-year-old arguably his team's best performer in the Getafe and Villarreal games.

The Brazilian star's defending was very solid, with few players getting past him, bouncing back from his red-card shame against Barcelona.

And what's more, he set up Antoine Griezmann's goal against Real Madrid to help Atletico win the derby.

2. Diego Godin

Atletico did not let in a goal in February while Diego Godin was on the pitch.

He was suspended against Eibar because, like Filipe Luis, he was sent off against Barcelona, but after returning, he helped Atletico keep four clean sheets in four games.

Godin is the best centre-back in the world in a purely defensive sense.

Mistakes are extremely rare, and he made none in the clashes with Getafe, Villarreal, PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid.

At times Simeone even throws him up front, such is his aerial presence, although he didn't find the net in February.

1. Saul Niguez

Atletico fans have a new hero. With every game, Saul Niguez's presence grows at the club.

Arguably, he is now the side's most important midfielder at the tender age of 21.

Augusto Fernandez, Koke and Gabi would all have something to say about that, no doubt, but Saul is physically outstanding, has technical finesse and combines attack and defence perfectly.

His form this month must surely be a big signal to Vicente del Bosque to call him up to the Spain squad ahead of UEFA Euro 2016, though the coach has been reticent to use untried options.

Saul was the most important player on the pitch against Real Madrid, driving his team to derby victory.

If he will have one regret from this month, it will be that he couldn't help his team push on against 10-man PSV, but in the future, you can imagine him taking these sort of games by the scruff of the neck.