Atleti's faint title hopes suffer Rayo Vallecano blow
Atletico Madrid slipped to back-to-back LaLiga defeats as two quickfire goals at the end of the first half contributed to them losing 3-0 to Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio Ontime Butarque.
Diego Simeone's side came into the contest having thumped Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, but they was unable to get itself going here.
Pacha Espino had the game's first real opportunity in the 31st minute, but after racing in behind the Atletico defence, his stinging shot was repelled by Jan Oblak at his near post.
But Vallecano led five minutes before the break when Fran Perez swept Andrei Ratiu's cross past Oblak, and it got even better for Inigo Perez's side soon after.
Clement Lenglet's sloppy pass was intercepted, which allowed Ilias Akhomach to cut the ball back for Isi Palazon. His attempt was brilliantly saved by Oblak down to his left, but Oscar Valentin was the quickest to react to tuck home the rebound.
After seeing a shot cleared off the line at the end of the first half, Nico Gonzalez saw two efforts in quick succession thwarted by Augusto Batalla as Atletico looked to mount a response on the hour.
However, even with the introductions of Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman, the visitors fell further behind when Nobel Mendy nodded Alvaro Garcia's delivery into the back of the net following a short corner routine in the 76th minute.
