Match report: Atlético embarrassed themselves in La Liga | OneFootball

After the madness of the Copa del Rey, Atlético de Madrid faced a strange league derby against Rayo Vallecano at Butarque. The poor condition of the Vallecas Stadium pitch, which had already prevented the Rayo – Oviedo match from being played, forced La Liga to change the venue, moving the match to Leganés. This did not prevent the game from being played, but the Butarque Stadium had little presence of Rayo fans, with some sections even empty and no visiting supporters.

The match started with a lineup featuring many new faces. After the exertion of the Copa del Rey, Cholo Simeone chose a starting eleven in which only Nahuel and Ruggeri remained from the previous match. In the opening minutes, Rayo Vallecano controlled possession and created some presence near Atlético's goal, but without any clear scoring chances. The clearest opportunity came from Nahuel, who delivered a precise cross that Nico met at the far post, and Mendy almost scored an own goal, hitting the crossbar. Atlético let the chance slip, coming close to scoring the opener at Butarque.

Possession belonged to the home side, and Simeone's team sat back, waiting to steal the ball and break quickly, as in the play by Nico. Chances were few and far between, and Baena, after a poorly executed short corner, tried his luck from the edge of the box with a right-footed shot that sailed over the bar. After the halfway point of the match, Atlético improved, took the initiative, and forced the Rayo side to drop deeper. After several minutes of dominance, Rayo regained control of the ball and began to threaten Oblak's goal, who had to intervene a couple of times to keep a clean sheet.

After the half-hour mark, Ilias created the best chance for the home side so far. The play started on the right wing, and he ended up breaking into the box. The Rayo player found himself at the penalty spot, first denied by Oblak, who blocked his shot, and then by Nahuel, who made a crucial clearance. Rayo Vallecano was the better side, and just before halftime, Ilias broke into the box from the left, outwitted Ruggeri, and delivered a cross that Fran Pérez, alone at the penalty spot, finished into the back of the net. The red-sashed side took a deserved lead in a first half full of ups and downs.

And just when everything seemed set for both teams to head to the locker rooms, the usual happened. Lenglet, who hadn't started since December 6, was back in the starting lineup at Butarque, and not for the better. In a build-up play, he lost the ball and Rayo Vallecano took advantage, with a great save from Oblak in between, to score the second goal of the match, courtesy of Oscar Valentín. With the score at 2-0, the teams finally went to the locker rooms.

No tension and no shame at Butarque

The second half began with no changes, and as the first minutes passed, no chances came. After Rodrigo Mendoza received a yellow card, which means suspension, Cholo decided to make some changes. A triple substitution, though it left Atlético fans unimpressed. Needing a comeback, Le Normand, Obed Vargas, and Julián Alvarez came on, with the Argentine being the only regular starter. Ruggeri, Rodrigo Mendoza, and Baena made way.

It wasn't until the hour mark that Atlético had their clearest chance. Nico appeared, making a run into the box, but was denied by Batalla, who deflected the shot for a corner. It was the clearest opportunity so far, after the 2-0, and with half an hour left, Cholo Simeone used up his substitutions. Johnny and Lenglet left the pitch, and Marcos Llorente and Lookman came on.

But there was no shame in the Atlético de Madrid players, who failed to even enter Rayo Vallecano's box. An equalizer was impossible, and the passivity was overwhelming. So much so that the home side, with a corner in their favor, played it short, no one pressed, and Álvaro García, all alone, delivered a perfect cross that Mendy headed into the back of the net at the far post. It was the third goal, and the stands, with just over five thousand people, chanted oles at the passivity of the Atlético players. With the score at 3-0, Giménez had a backheel attempt from a corner to reduce the deficit, but Batalla made a great save.

The Uruguayan defender's effort was Atlético's last big moment at Butarque, in another league match to forget. They lost again in the domestic competition, making it three games in a row without a win. The league image is dire, leaving the team in fourth place, tied on points with Villarreal (45 pts), who have a game in hand. Moreover, Betis is lurking seven points behind, with a game still to play this round.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.