Los Colchoneros were celebrating at the end, but they were made to work very hard to clinch victory after the visitors laid siege to their goal in the closing minutes.
Sergio Agüero netted the only goal of the game after Hildebrand came for a cross and dropped it at the striker's feet having made a number fine saves early on.
In an intense encounter in Vicente Calderón it took just one error to split the two sides, but Valencia will take heart from their spirited performance.
Atlético defended stoutly, while the visitors may wish that they had started with the team that eventually finished the game.
Koeman chose to begin with no recognisable striker up front as Nikola Zigic was named on the bench and Javier Arizmendi continued his role as a makeshift right-back in Miguel's absence.
The system left Valencia short of options going forward and allowed Atlético to take advantage as they created several chances in the opening few minutes of the match.
During the space of three first half minutes Hildebrand staked his claim for man-of-the-match as he made three impressive saves to keep the away team level.
In the 14th minute he denied Antonio López by tipping his free-kick on to the post, then saved Raúl García's close range effort and completed his hat-trick with a flying stop to keep out a long ranger from Agüero.
At the other end Ángel Montorro and Juan Mata had chances but failed to truly trouble Christian Abbiati in the Atlético goal.
Then Hildebrand went from hero to villain as he came to claim a high cross from Luis Perea, but flapped at the ball and it fell to the feet of Agüero who rolled it across the line.
The keeper looked to appeal for a foul as he was obstructed from reaching the centre, but it was Iván Helguera who had impeded his path.
Valencia lifted their game after the goal, but without a conventional forward were unable to play down the wings and the midfielders were forced to move forward themselves to make chances.
It was not until a minute before the break that Arizmendi finally caused Abbiati to make a meaningful save as he rose to meet a Joaquín cross and nod goalwards.
Atlético then lfited their game as they appeared to realise that one goal may not be enough and Raúl García went close.
At the other end Zigic, who came on after the break, then struck the frame of the goal as he hammered a shot towards the roof of the net, only for Abbiati to take the slightest of touches and steer it onto the bar.
Raúl García fired just wide as Atlético had a rare sortie forward in the final quarter of an hour before Helguera then had a hat-trick of chances to level in the closing moments.
As the clock ticked down the former Real Madrid defender headed just wide, then nodded against the right-hand post, before rounding the game off by shooting against the other post from eight yards.
Sergio Agüero netted the only goal of the game after Hildebrand came for a cross and dropped it at the striker's feet having made a number fine saves early on.
In an intense encounter in Vicente Calderón it took just one error to split the two sides, but Valencia will take heart from their spirited performance.
Atlético defended stoutly, while the visitors may wish that they had started with the team that eventually finished the game.
Koeman chose to begin with no recognisable striker up front as Nikola Zigic was named on the bench and Javier Arizmendi continued his role as a makeshift right-back in Miguel's absence.
The system left Valencia short of options going forward and allowed Atlético to take advantage as they created several chances in the opening few minutes of the match.
During the space of three first half minutes Hildebrand staked his claim for man-of-the-match as he made three impressive saves to keep the away team level.
In the 14th minute he denied Antonio López by tipping his free-kick on to the post, then saved Raúl García's close range effort and completed his hat-trick with a flying stop to keep out a long ranger from Agüero.
At the other end Ángel Montorro and Juan Mata had chances but failed to truly trouble Christian Abbiati in the Atlético goal.
Then Hildebrand went from hero to villain as he came to claim a high cross from Luis Perea, but flapped at the ball and it fell to the feet of Agüero who rolled it across the line.
The keeper looked to appeal for a foul as he was obstructed from reaching the centre, but it was Iván Helguera who had impeded his path.
Valencia lifted their game after the goal, but without a conventional forward were unable to play down the wings and the midfielders were forced to move forward themselves to make chances.
It was not until a minute before the break that Arizmendi finally caused Abbiati to make a meaningful save as he rose to meet a Joaquín cross and nod goalwards.
Atlético then lfited their game as they appeared to realise that one goal may not be enough and Raúl García went close.
At the other end Zigic, who came on after the break, then struck the frame of the goal as he hammered a shot towards the roof of the net, only for Abbiati to take the slightest of touches and steer it onto the bar.
Raúl García fired just wide as Atlético had a rare sortie forward in the final quarter of an hour before Helguera then had a hat-trick of chances to level in the closing moments.
As the clock ticked down the former Real Madrid defender headed just wide, then nodded against the right-hand post, before rounding the game off by shooting against the other post from eight yards.
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