A perfect Storm
In the first home game of this league campaign, Simeone’s men gave their fans a great performance blowing Rayo aside with three goals in the first half (Raul Garcia, Diego Costa and Arda) and two in the second (Tiago and Raul Garcia).
Atletico Madrid 5-0 Rayo Vallecano
Atletico Madrid: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe Luis, Gabi (Koke, 58 '), Tiago, Raul Garcia, Arda (Leo Baptistão, 68'), Diego Costa (Adrian, 64 ') and David Villa
Rayo Vallecano: Cobeño, Titus, Galvez (Arbilla, 33 '), Galeano, Nacho, Saul, Trashorras, Lass, Good (Raul Baena, 48'), Perea (Cave, 62 ') and Larrivey
Goals:
Min 16. 1-0: Raul Garcia
Min 20. 2-0: Diego Costa
Min 34. 3-0: Arda
Min.53. 4-0: Tiago
Min.89. 5-0: Raul Garcia
Referee: Iglesias Villanueva booked Nacho (71 ') for the visitors..
Atletico Madrid got off to a great start in their first league encounter in the Calderon, showing the same traits which made them so powerful at home last term. On a hot afternoon on the banks of the Manzanares the Rojiblancos wanted to reward the loyalty of their fans with a perfect storm. A flurry of goals and the first three points of the season in the Calderon.
It didn’t take long to get started and in the opening minutes Diego Costa made a powerful run down the right before crossing to Arda Turan's head, only the intervention of Tito prevented the first goal. The Brazilian looked n rampant form from the off and in the next move came the first goal. Gabi put the ball in the area for Raul Garcia who headed the ball home to make it 1-0 after just 16 minutes.
The opening goal only push Atleti on and their intensity lead to more openings and just 4 minutes later they doubled the lead. Tiago pressured his man to rob the ball before Arda took the ball forward. The Turkisk international saw Diego Costa at the far post alone. He crossed the ball and the Brazilian international finished with his left foot in the 20th minute.
After finding themselves behind so early in the game Rayo were forced to come out and look for a way back in to the game and Larrivey tried with a header in the 23 minutes in what was the only chance for his team in the first half. As Jemez’s men pushed forward, they left space at the back which Villa and Costa looked to take advantage of.
The quality of Simeone's men was too much for the opposition and Arda made it 3-0 before the break. The winger got in behind the defence and scored with a cool finish, he rounded the goalkeeper before slotting the ball home. The Calderon broke into song with the crowd celebrating the spectacular goal. It was the third of the afternoon, but not the last.
In the second half Simeones men continued to put pressure on Cobeño’s goal. In a move that started from a corner kick, Arda who was becoming the master of the game, put the ball inside the area for Tiago's to head home the fourth.
Simeone made some changes and brought on Koke, Adrian and Leo who all wanted to join the party. Adrian linked up well with his fellow Asturian David Villa who was looking to open his league account but the striker hit the the crossbar. With the game dying, a great move by Koke in the area ended with the ball at the feet of Raul Garcia to double his own tally for the day whilst adding his team’s fifth.
It was the last ray of a perfect storm. A show of strength, hunger, quality and efficiency before the second leg of the Spanish Super Cup at the Camp Nou.
