Match ends, Atlético de Madrid 1, Rayo Vallecano 0.
Atl MadridAtlético Madrid1Rayo VallecanoRayo Vallecano0
Substitute Antoine Griezmann scored the winner as Atletico Madrid beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 to stay in the La Liga title race with two games left.
Griezmann's 31st goal of the season took Atletico back above Real Madrid, 1-0 winners at Real Sociedad, before Barcelona later reclaimed top spot.
Atletico boss Diego Simeone had made seven changes to the side that beat Bayern Munich 1-0 in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Griezmann scored with his second touch.
The France international's 20-yard strike, 40 seconds after coming on, gave Atletico a sixth successive league win but they remain second to Barcelona - who beat Real Betis 2-0 on Saturday evening - because of their inferior head-to-head record.
It was Atletico's fourth 1-0 victory in a row as the 2014 Spanish champions, who will be looking to reach their second Champions League final in three seasons in Tuesday's second leg in Munich, kept a 23rd clean sheet in La Liga this season.
Fernando Torres, who came off the bench at the same time as Griezmann following directions from Simeone, who is serving a three-match touchline ban, could have doubled their lead but saw his shot saved by Juan Carlos.
Rayo Vallecano remain two points above the relegation zone.
| La Liga title run-in | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| DATES | Barcelona | Atletico Madrid | Real Madrid |
| Sunday, 8 May (16:00 BST) | Espanyol (h) | Levante (h) | Valencia (h) |
| Saturday, 14 May (time TBC) | Granada (a) | Celta Vigo (h) | Deportivo La Coruna (a) |
What they said
Atletico Madrid goalscorer Antoine Griezmann: "Rayo made things difficult for us.
"The players who started lacked rhythm, which was normal, as they hadn't played in a long time. But we were able to improve and got the win."
Line-ups
Atl Madrid
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Oblak
- 20Torres Belén
- 24Giménez de Vargas
- 19Hernández
- 18Gámez
- 22Partey
- 14Fernández ArenasSubstituted forKokeat 45'minutes
- 8KranevitterBooked at 68mins
- 10Torres MuñozSubstituted forGriezmannat 54'minutes
- 16Correa
- 23ViettoSubstituted forTorresat 54'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Moyá Rumbo
- 3Filipe Luís
- 6Koke
- 7Griezmann
- 9Torres
- 15Savic
- 17Saúl
Rayo Vallecano
Formation 4-4-2
- 13Martín Corral
- 17Marín Ruiz
- 4AmayaSubstituted forContreiras Gonçalvesat 64'minutes
- 22Crespo
- 2Román Triguero
- 11Embarba
- 21Sánchez Ruiz
- 27Llorente Ríos
- 23Dias CorreiaBooked at 35minsSubstituted forMedina Lunaat 58'minutesSubstituted forMontiel Caballeroat 84'minutes
- 24Guerra Rodríguez
- 7Fedor Flores
Substitutes
- 5Dorado Ramírez
- 9Contreiras Gonçalves
- 12Medina Luna
- 15Rat
- 25Rodríguez Oterino
- 26Montiel Caballero
- 33Clavería Herráiz
- Referee:
- José María Sánchez Martínez
- Attendance:
- 45,523
Match Stats
Home TeamAtl MadridAway TeamRayo Vallecano
- Possession
- Home38%
- Away62%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away13
- Shots on Target
- Home6
- Away2
- Corners
- Home5
- Away7
- Fouls
- Home14
- Away12
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Atlético de Madrid 1, Rayo Vallecano 0.
Post update
Joni Montiel (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Fernando Torres (Atlético de Madrid).
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Foul by Javi Guerra (Rayo Vallecano).
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Jan Oblak (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Attempt blocked. Jozabed (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Jan Oblak.
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Attempt blocked. Jozabed (Rayo Vallecano) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Adrián Embarba.
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Corner, Rayo Vallecano. Conceded by Juanfran.
Substitution
Substitution, Rayo Vallecano. Joni Montiel replaces Piti because of an injury.
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Foul by Jozabed (Rayo Vallecano).
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Matías Kranevitter (Atlético de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Tito (Rayo Vallecano) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Juanfran (Atlético de Madrid).
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Attempt saved. Fernando Torres (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Koke.
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Attempt missed. Javi Guerra (Rayo Vallecano) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Miku with a cross.
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Offside, Atlético de Madrid. Jesús Gámez tries a through ball, but Ángel Correa is caught offside.
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Attempt missed. Thomas Partey (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Koke.
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Attempt missed. Koke (Atlético de Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses the top right corner. Assisted by Ángel Correa.
