Triumph of authority in Vallecas
Atletico Madrid thrashed Rayo Vallecano to add one more win and keep on top of the table. Two goals from Arda Turan, one of Villa and another from Diego Costa ended the rayista resistance.
Rayo Vallecano 2-4 Atletico Madrid
Rayo Vallecano: Reuben, Tito, Arbilla Saul, Nacho; Trashorras, Raúl Baena (Castillo, 76); Lass (Rochina , 56'), Bueno, Jonathan Viera (Iago Falqué, 83') and Larrivey.
Atletico Madrid: Courtois; Manquillo, Godin, Miranda, Luis Filipe, Sosa (Óliver , 60) (Cristian Rodriguez, 63'), Gabi, Koke, Arda Turan; Villa (Raul Garcia , 79') and Diego Costa.
Referee: Undiano Mallenco
GOALS
0-1. 8 ' . David Villa
0-2. 30 ' . Arda Turan
1-2 . 40 ' . Jonathan Viera
1-3 . 44 ' . Arda Turan
1-4 . 75 ' . Diego Costa
2-4. 76 ' . Larrivey
On the eve of the game the two coaches spoke. Simeone was expecting a Rayo to play as they have all season, that would not change. The Rayista came ou and did just that. Atletico were straight into the game from the opening whistle. So much so that in two minutes Atletico Madrid almost went in front.
First Arda Turan had a chance, setting up Diego Costa, but his shot went wide. Immediately afterwards Costa received the ball, when everyone expected the shot, he laid it off to David Villa who made it 0-1 with eight minutes played.
Atletico continues to look for more goals, and after various chances, the second came. Shortly after a strong penalty shout had been turned down, Atletico Madrid doubled their lead. Villa on the right played the ball to Costa who played in Sosa and Argentine found the unmarked Arda Turan to simply push the ball in to the net.
Rayo Vallecano pushed with more heart than head, but one of the times the ball broke to Larrivey inside the area and his pass to the left found Jonathan Viera who beat Courtois. However, the spirit that showed Atletico Madrid did not change, and they continued to look the most dangerous side and restored the two goal advantage just before the break. A masterfully executed free kick from Gabi was turned in at the far post to make the score 1-3 at half time.
That third goal gave Atletico a cushion for the second half and with a solid defensive team, where Manquillo fit in perfectly in the absence of suspended Juanfran with Koke and Gabi in the engine room. Sosa, who made his debut as a starter, had a good match, actively participating in the second and even having a shot on goal that the goalie thwarted. And a Arda who contributed two goals.
Up front, Villa scored again and set up his partner Diego Costa for the fourth goal before Larrivey pulled one back to make it 4-2 in favour of the visitor.
The only bad news from the second half was that Óliver Torres lasted just three minutes on the pitch, and he had to leave on a stretcher with a shoulder problem . It was the downside of a placid match for the excellent work of a team that sit above Barcelona at the top of the table prior to the Catalans evening kick off.
