At the end of matchday 3 in La Liga, Atletico Madrid put a big exclamation mark on the Madrid derby. At Rayo Vallecano, who had started the season perfectly, the Rojiblancos, who are not popularly regarded as goal manufacturers under coach Diego Simeone, won 7-0.
After a perfect start to the season, Rayo coach Francisco Rodriguez made just one change from the 2-0 win at Granada, the second 2-0 away win in the second game. De Tomas replaced Nteka, who was initially on the bench.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone was looking for his second treble of the young season after a 0-0 draw at Betis Sevilla and brought in three newcomers: Molina, Saul Niguez and Barrios replaced Azpilicueta, Llorente (both on the bench) and Lemar (not in the squad).
Griezmann opens the scoring – Depay follows up
From the start, the Rojiblancos were in no doubt about their intentions and Griezmann put the visitors on the winning track after just over a minute. Depay took too long on the edge of the box, but then served the advancing de Paul on the right. The Argentine crossed sensitively to the second post, where Griezmann volleyed into the bottom right corner (2nd minute). After fellow striker Depay had found his master in Rayo keeper Dimitrievski a little later (5th), the home side gradually found their way into the game.
The Rojiblancos’ compact 5-3-2 gave Rayo little to counter with offensively, despite a number of ball movements, and instead Depay made the most of his second opportunity: when Saul Niguez’s low cross was misjudged by Rayo centre-back Aridane at the five-yard line, the Dutchman, who was positioned behind him, took advantage and slotted home to make it 2-0 (16th).
Molina’s leg kick gives the game the early edge
The home side then tried to respond, but apart from a shot from distance by Trejo and two minor errors by keeper Oblak (31st, 32nd), Atletico hardly allowed anything dangerous to happen. Barrios won the ball in midfield and de Paul set up the right-back Molina with a pinpoint pass. The Argentinian kept his cool in the one-on-one with Dimitrievski and slid in through the legs of the Rayo keeper to make it 3-0 at half-time (36).
After the break, Atletico kept giving the ball to Rayo. But while the hosts only tried from distance through Alvaro (55.), Isi (56.) and Pacha Espino (58.) due to a lack of alternatives, Morata, who had already come on for the injured Depay in the first half, missed the final decision on the other side (53.).
Rayo falls apart in the closing stages: Morata scores the brace
The striker did it better about 20 minutes later when Morata finished off a fine combination via Griezmann and Saul Niguez in front of Dimitrievski to make it 4-0 (73rd) – the final decision. Rayo, however, did not give up, continued to play forward and at least wanted to score the consolation goal. The Rojeblancos punished their commitment.
After a bad pass by Dimitrievski in the build-up, the substitute Correa sent the ball into the left corner of the net (79th). The visitors, who had been ice-cold on Monday evening, finally increased the score to 7-0 with a double strike, and Rayo were punished twice more with their quick switching play. First, Morata scored a brace after receiving a pass from Correa (84th). Just two minutes later, the Spaniard’s cross set up Llorente’s finish, with the midfielder placing the ball into the bottom right corner from twelve metres.
Atletico are back in action next Saturday (18.30), this time at home against Sevilla FC. Also waiting for Rayo is an opponent from Sevilla. The men from the Vallecas district travel to Real Betis on Saturday (21h).
