Joao Felix’s excellent cross arrange Koke’s winner as Atletico Madrid jumped to third in La Liga on Saturday with a 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. With Barcelona taking part in Real Madrid in the Clasico on Sunday, Atletico took benefit at Vallecas, their fifth consecutive victory giving them some respiratory area in the struggle for the highest 4. They had to see out the final 9 minutes with 10 males after Angel Correa, on instead, was despatched off. But simply as they did in opposition to Manchester United on Tuesday in the Champions League, Atletico dug in and held on.
They now have a five-point lead over Real Betis in fifth and sit three forward of Barcelona in fourth, even when Betis have one recreation in hand and Barca two.
Diego Simeone’s aspect definitely head into the worldwide break with momentum for the run-in, after rounding off a superb seven days that started with victory in opposition to Cadiz earlier than knocking out United.
The draw on Friday ensured the reward for that end result shall be a gathering with Manchester City in the final eight and whereas Atletico shall be clear underdogs in opposition to the reigning Premier League champions, they’re additionally constructing kind and confidence at simply the correct time.
“I believe we have now discovered the important thing, we have now elevated the depth, the workforce is taking part in higher and that’s mirrored in the outcomes,” stated Koke.
“We have grown collectively,” added Simeone.
Felix has been key, this his seventh purpose or help in his final seven matches, the 22-year-old repaying Simeone’s religion whereas Luis Suarez once more began on the bench.
This was the sixth consecutive recreation Suarez has been named instead and, with the faster, extra agile pairing of Felix and Antoine Griezmann up entrance, Atletico have hit their stride.
Rayo keep twelfth, after making it 10 league video games with out a victory. They have been in competition for the European spots only some weeks in the past however now sit simply eight factors above the relegation locations.
Felix was on the coronary heart of the decisive second in the forty ninth minute as Koke collected on the sting of the world and performed inside to the Portuguese.
As Rayo’s defence turned to Felix, no person noticed Koke persevering with his run, besides the ahead, who slid the ball by means of first time for Koke to curl in the end.
Griezmann ought to have made it two however was denied by a close-range save from Stole Dimitrievski and Atletico have been virtually undone when Oscar Valentin’s pushed cross discovered Randy Nteka free 5 yards out. Somehow Nteka skewed over.
Correa was despatched off in the eighty fifth minute for what appeared to be an altercation with Rayo’s Alejandro Catena and Rayo went shut in injury-time, after Dimitrievski was despatched up for a nook. The ball dropped free for Ivan Balliu and he shot low, however straight at Jan Oblak.
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