First Division - Day 36

Atlético Madrid 1 - Rayo Vallecano 0

Atlético: Oblak; Juanfran, Giménez, Lucas Hernández, Jesús Gámez; Thomás, Gabi (Koke 46’), Kranevitter, Oliver Torres (Griezmann 54’); Correa, Vietto (Fernando Torres 54’). 4-4-2.
Rayo: Juan Carlos; Quini, Amaya (Manucho 64‘), Crespo, Tito; Embarba, Diego Llorente, Jozabed, Bebé (Piti 58‘, Joni Montiel 84‘); Miku, Javi Guerra. 4-4-2

Goals:
1-0. 55. Griezmann. Intercepted Crespo clearance and thrashed shot past keeper.

Yellow cards: Bebé 35’, Kranevitter 68’.

Atlético Madrid stay a point ahead of city rivals Real Madrid, level with leaders Barcelona in the table, after they beat neighbours Rayo Vallecano 1-0 on Saturday. Diego Simeone rested several key players for the upcoming Champions League tie in Munich, and his side were almost caught out early on, Embarba shooting wide and Miku coming up against Oblak. Correa tested Juan Carlos at the other end, but some ten minutes in to the second half Simeone turned to Griezmann and Fernando Torres. Just forty seconds later Atleti were ahead after Crespo could only partly clear a long free kick, Griezmann picking up the rebound and thrashing a shot past the visiting keeper. Torres should have made it two a few minutes later when he shot straight at Juan Carlos when free on goal, and Koke fired a shot just over the top near the end, but they had already done enough for another narrow win. The defeat leaves Rayo just outside of the bottom three pending the rest of the weekend games.