Match ends, Atlético de Madrid 3, Rayo Vallecano 1.
Atl MadridAtlético Madrid3Rayo VallecanoRayo Vallecano1
Antoine Griezmann's double helped Atletico Madrid ease to victory over Rayo Vallecano and keep pace with their rivals at the top of La Liga.
The French forward took advantage of slack defending to slot past Tono and then fired in from a Mario Mandzukic header to double the champions' lead.
Roberto Trashorras struck back before Manucho's own goal after the break.
The win keeps third-placed Atletico four points behind leaders Real Madrid and three behind Barcelona.
Diego Simeone's side headed into the match off the back of 1-0 defeat by Barca in the Copa del Rey in midweek.
Griezmann was unlucky not to score his first Atletico hat-trick when he struck a post with a difficult chance late on but took his tally to 10 league goals for the season.
On loan AC Milan striker Fernando Torres made his sixth appearance since rejoining his boyhood club as a substitute for Mandzukic and squandered a great chance to the score in stoppage time.
However, the convincing derby victory over Madrid neighbours Rayo gives Atletico a timely boost ahead of the return leg of their Copa quarter-final against Barca at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday.
Line-ups
Atl Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Moyá Rumbo
- 20Torres Belén
- 24Giménez de Vargas
- 23Miranda
- 3Siqueira
- 14Fernández ArenasBooked at 81mins
- 5Cardoso Mendes
- 4Suárez
- 10TuranSubstituted forGarcia Escuderoat 80'minutes
- 9MandzukicSubstituted forTorresat 70'minutes
- 7Griezmann
Substitutes
- 8Garcia Escudero
- 13Oblak
- 17Saúl
- 18Gámez
- 19Torres
- 22Gracia Calmache
- 28Hernández
Rayo Vallecano
Formation 3-5-1-1
- 25Rodríguez Martínez
- 18Rosa Vale Castro
- 15Ba
- 20Morcillo
- 16Aquino
- 8BaenaBooked at 59mins
- 10Trashorras
- 6FatauSubstituted forBuenoat 72'minutes
- 12KakutaSubstituted forMoreno Loperaat 83'minutes
- 21Sánchez RuizSubstituted forPozuelo Meleroat 57'minutes
- 9Contreiras Gonçalves
Substitutes
- 3Martínez García
- 4Amaya
- 13Álvarez
- 22Pereira Carneiro
- 23Bueno
- 24Pozuelo Melero
- 27Moreno Lopera
- Referee:
- Iñaki Vicandi Garrido
- Attendance:
- 37,202
Match Stats
Home TeamAtl MadridAway TeamRayo Vallecano
- Possession
- Home33%
- Away67%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away3
- Corners
- Home8
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home15
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Atlético de Madrid 3, Rayo Vallecano 1.
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Attempt missed. Raúl Baena (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.
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Raúl Baena (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Tiago (Atlético de Madrid).
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Attempt saved. Mario Suárez (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Tiago.
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Hand ball by Zé Castro (Rayo Vallecano).
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Attempt missed. Zé Castro (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right following a corner.
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Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Miranda.
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Alberto Bueno (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Gabi (Atlético de Madrid).
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Antoine Griezmann (Atlético de Madrid) hits the right post with a left footed shot from outside the box. Assisted by Tiago following a fast break.
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Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Guillherme Siqueira.
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Foul by Alberto Bueno (Rayo Vallecano).
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Tiago (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Álex Moreno replaces Gaël Kakuta.
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Foul by Abdoulaye Ba (Rayo Vallecano).
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Fernando Torres (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Booking
Gabi (Atlético de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Javier Aquino (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
