Welcome to our live coverage of the Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano, La Liga 2024-25 matchday 33 fixture. Stay tuned for live updates from the game, including the starting XIs.
Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano Highlights, La Liga 2024-25: Atletico won 3-0 against Rayo in Matchday 33 of the Spanish La Liga on 24 April. Follow the highlights from the ATM vs RAY match here
Welcome to our live coverage of the Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano, La Liga 2024-25 matchday 33 fixture. Stay tuned for live updates from the game, including the starting XIs.
The ATM vs RAY fixture will be played at the Metropolitano Stadium, and will kick-off at 1:00 AM IST on 25 April.
To find out how to watch the match live, read here.
Before the lineups for tonight's game are released, let's have a look at the injury list for both teams:
Atletico Madrid: No injuries, with Rodrigo De Paul and Pablo Barrios returning to full fitness
Rayo Vallecano: Abdul Mumin (knee), Jonathan Montiel (calf), Sergio Camello (foot)
This is how the points table looks like before tonight's match:
Atletico Madrid are currently third in the league table with 63 points from 32 games (18 wins, nine draws), three points clear of Athletic Bilbao at fourth. They trail second-placed Real Madrid by nine points, so a top-four finish is all Diego Simeone can hope for in this league campaign.
Meanwhile, Rayo Vallecano are 11th in the league at the moment with 41 points in 32 games (10 wins, 11 draws). They are five points away from the last European place, with seventh-placed Celta Vigo at 46 points, albeit having played a game more. A win tonight can take the visitors up to the eighth place (depending on the result of the Osasuna vs Sevilla match).
Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak (c); Javi Galan, Clement Lenglet, Robin Le Normand, Marcos Llorente; Conor Gallagher, Pablo Barrios, Rodrigo De Paul, Giliano Simeone; Julian Alvarez, Alexander Sorloth
Rayo Vallecano: Augusto Batalla; Pacha Espino, Pathe Ciss, Florian Lejuene, Andrei Ratiu; Oscar Valentin (c), Unai Lopez; Alvaro Garcia, Pedro Diaz, Isi Palazon; Randy Nteka
Atletico Madrid: Juan Musso, Axel Witsel, Cesar Azpilicueta, Jose Gimenez, Nahuel Molina, Reinildo, Koke, Rodrigo Riquelme, Samuel Dias Lino, Angel Correa, Antoine Griezmann, Thomas Lemar
Rayo Vallecano: Dani Cardenas, Aridane Hernandez, Ivan Balliu, Pelayo Fernandez, Gerard Gumbau, Marco de las Sias, Oscar Trejo, Adrian Embarba, Jorge de Frutos, Raul de Tomas, Sergi Guardiola
In the reverse fixture in September, Rayo Vallecano held Atletico Madrid to a 1-1 draw at the Vallecas Stadium, with Isi Palazon scoring for the home side.
Take a look at his goal:
Here's how the other La Liga 2024-25 matchday 33 fixtures ended on 24 April:
CA Osasuna 1-0 Sevilla FC
CD Leganes 1-1 Girona
Atletico Madrid: D L W W L
Rayo Vallecano: D W L L D
The referee blows his whistle, and we are underway at the Metropolitano Stadium! Stay tuned for live updates from the game.
ATM 0-0 RAY (0')
Well, talk about a fast start! Marcos Llorente runs down the right side of midfield and feeds the ball to Giuliano Simeone, and the winger delivers an inch-perfect cross into the box. Alexander Sorloth, backed to start the game by Diego Simeone, overpowers Florian Lejeune and heads it towards the near cornor to give batalla no chance.
ATM 1-0 RAY (3')
Barrios is given freedom in the midfield by Vallecano, and he tees up Sorloth with a wonderfully weighted ball. The Norwegian beats the offside trap and shoots with his left foot towards the near post, but Batalla keeps it out this time.
ATM 1-0 RAY (8')
After a superb start, Rayo Vallecano have attempted to slow down the pace of the game, which suits their style of play. Isi Palazon came close with a low shot early in the game, and the visitors are trying to push up with slow buildup play, but Atleti defence is holding strong at the moment.
ATMA 1-0 RAY (15')
In the other La Liga 2024-25 game going on now, Jesus Rodriguez has scored for Real Betis against Real Valladolid.
The match is becoming more cagey as time passes on, with the attacking impetus dropping a bit. Little in terms of chances for either teams in the last 10 minutes.
Ratiu tried to put a cross inside the Atletico box, but the defenders head it away. The home-side are still unbothered defensively.
ATM 1-0 RAY (23')
After some pressure from Atletico Madrid, Rayo find themselves in the opposition box, with Randy Nteka being crowded out by the defenders, and the ball is cleared before Alvaro Garcia can get to the ball.
ATM 1-0 RAY (26')
The best chance for the visitors so far. Andrei Ratiu -- who has been the best player for Rayo so far -- runs with the ball down the right and crosses it back for Isi Palazon in the box. The attacker is surrounded by defenders but tries a half-volley towards the left side, and Jan Oblak dives down to keep it out.
Fortunately for Atleti, but ball does not fall towards the onrushing Alvaro Garcia.
ATM 1-0 RAY (29')
Julia Alvarez finds Javi Galan down the left, and the full-back puts in a terrific cross to find Sorloth, but the Norwegian's header goes wide. He claims that Pathe Ciss held on to his jersey, but replays show that the defender did well to put Sorloth off.
After a terrific start to the game, Sorloth has squandered a numbre of decent chances to bury the game early on.
ATM 1-0 RAY (30')
Rayo Vallecano are growing into the match, with Javi Galan trying his luck from outside the box but coming close with a left-footer. Diego Simeone is shouting "Calma, calma!" down the touchline.
ATM 1-0 RAY (40')
Real Valladolid have equalised in the other game, with Chuki scoring right before half-time.
Rayo have struggled with dealing with Atleti's aerial balls throughout the game, and the ball from Rodrigo De Paul is perfect! With both Sorloth and Gallagher in the box, it's the English midfielder who gets his head on it, and it flies past Batalla.
Two minutes of added time after this.
ATM 2-0 RAY (45')
Two minutes of added time are up, and it's half-time at the Metropolitano Stadium. The home side are two goals ahead at the break, with Sorloth and Gallagher scoring.
ATM 2-0 RAY (HT)
The second half is underway at the Metropolitano, with Atleti leading by two goals.
ATM 2-0 RAY (45')
What a save by Jan Oblak! Unai Lopez finds Alvaro on the left side, and the winger puts in a peachy ball in the box. It finds Isy Palazon, who beats Barrios on the jump and heads it towards the middle, but the keeper shows incredible reflexes to tip it over.
ATM 2-0 RAY (51')
Antoine Griezmann IN
Alexander Sorloth OUT
Griezmann gets a huge cheer from the stadium while he steps on the pitch.
After some one-two in the midfield, Unai Lopez tries his luck from way far, but Oblak has no trouble catching the ball.
ATM 2-0 RAY (60')
After Unai Lopez's effort, Rayo have resorted to shots from the distance as it has become difficult to venture into the Atleti box. Lejeune is the latest to try his luck after an effort by Ratiu, but no dice.
ATM 2-0 RAY (64')
In the other game, Real Betis take the lead again after Cucho Hernandez scores in the 64th minute.
A couple of chances for Atletico Madrid, with substitute Antoine Griezmann's shot being blocked in the box, and Marcos Llorente missing by inches with his outside the box shot.
ATM 2-0 RAY (66')
Gerard Gumbau, Pep Chavarria, Jorge de Frutos IN
Oscar Valentin, Unai Lopez, Pacha Espino OUT
Nahuel Molina IN
Giuliano Simeone OUT
Isco has scored in the other game, taking Real Betis lead to two goals.
Antoine Griezmann finds Javi Galan down the left, and the full back puts a cross in, but Pathe Ciss somehow keeps it out. The flag goes up anyway.
The match is not done and dusted by any means, with Atleti looking for another goal.
ATM 2-0 RAY (63')
Sergi Guardiola IN
Rany Nteka OUT
And surely, that's that! Griezmann runs with the ball and tees up Julian Alvarez running down the other side. The Argentine striker goes past Lejeune and finishes calmly past Batalla to triple Atleti's advantage.
ATM 3-0 RAY (77')
What a weird play from Batalla. The Argentina keeper goes after Gallagher, and tries to disposses the midfielder, and ends up bringing him down outside the box. A yellow card.
ATM 3-0 RAY (79')
Koke, Samu Lino, Cesar Azpilicueta IN
Rodrigo De Pail, Javi Galan, Conor Gallagher OUT
Adrian Embarba IN
Alvaro Garcia OUT
Substitute Adrian Embarba puts ain a nice ball towards the left edge of the box, and Jorge de Frutos is caught in two minds whether to hit it first time or let it run under pressure from Cesar Azpilicuet. In the end, he does neither, and the ball bounces out of play.
ATM 3-0 RAY (85')
In the other game, Roman Perraud increases Real Betis' advantage with another goal in the 84th minute.
Rayo attempt to venture forward down the right side, and De Frutos wins the ball from Lino down the right. The defence half-clears but it falls to the onrushing Gerard Gumbau. The shot is a bullet strike, and Oblak dives to keep it out.
Four mintutes added on by the fourth official.
ATM 3-0 RAY (90')
In the other game, EZ Abde scores in the 90th minute to make the scoreline 5-1 for Real Betis.
The referee blows his whistle, and it's all over at the Metropolitano Stadium. The home side end the clash as 3-0 winners, with Rayo being second best for most of the 90 minutes.
ATM 3-0 RAY (FT)
That's it from us for tonight, folks. Thank you for sticking with us for the Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano match. We hope you enojyed our live coverage of the Matchday 33 fixture.