March 20, (THEWILL) – La Liga title holders Atletico Madrid improved their chances of a top four finish this season with a critical three points at Vallecas on Saturday night.
Diego Simeone’s team had to dig deep to win, but captain Koke scored the game-winning goal in the second half to the relieved celebrations of visiting fans in the lesser Madrid derby.
Despite the fact that Rayo had failed to win any of their previous eight matches, they were never going to give their neighbours an easy game. They made this obvious from the very first whistle.
In the first half, Atletico had only a few decent chances, with Joao Felix and Antoine Griezmann both coming close, but stopping short of finding the much-needed opener for Diego Simeone’s visiting side.
However, the deadlock was broken when Koke executed a lovely one-two with Joao Felix before passing the ball into the far corner beyond the outstretched Stole Dimitrievski in the 49th minute of play.
Rayo never gave up and should have equalised on 78 minutes when substitute, Randy Nteka, skewed Alvaro Garcia’s cross over the bar.
With five minutes remaining, Atletico were reduced to ten men after Angel Correa was given a straight red by referee Jose Munuera, for shoving Alejandro Catena to the ground in obvious retaliation for a foul committed against him.
Nonetheless, the rest of the Atletico squad managed to hold on for the win, putting them in third place as they leapfrog Barcelona, who have played two games less.
Atleti will face Alaves at the Metropolitano after the international break, while Rayo will travel to the Estadio Nuevo Los Carmenes to lock horns against fellow relegation battlers Granada in their next match.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
