Is Atlético showing signs of defiance?

Four games, four defeats – Atletico Madrid’s recent slide has likely put paid to any chances of defending their title this season. Even before the last match of the first half of the season, Atlético are separated by 17 points from city rivals Real Madrid. In the meantime, the “Rojiblancos” have even slipped away from a starting place in the Champions League.

Sunday’s match against Rayo Vallecano is therefore all the more important and decisive. Especially as Atlético Madrid will move past Sunday’s opponents and into fourth place if they are successful.

Since January 2016, Atlético have won each of their last four competitive matches against Rayo. Head coach Diego Simeone’s side have gone without conceding a goal in all four of their competitive matches. Although the backline of the “Rojiblancos” has not made a good impression in recent weeks, it is not out of the question that the current series against Rayo will continue this time as well.

The visitors have won only one of their nine away games in La Liga. Rayo Vallecano have even failed to score in four of their nine away games – a good omen for Simeone’s stumbling troops?

Atletico Madrid – Statistics & current form

For ten years now, “El Cholo” has wielded the sceptre at the “Rojiblancos” from Madrid. In that time, Simeone has not only led his team to two championships, but has also won the Europa League twice and the UEFA Super Cup twice. One of the two La Liga championships came last season.

Unlike city rivals Real and FC Barcelona, Atlético delivered a strong season-ending run and deservedly claimed their second league title under “El Cholo”. Since then, however, there has been no sign of the title-hungry “Rojiblancos”. So far this season, Atlético have made a false start and have already dropped out of the championship race.

Before the last match in the first half of the season, Simeone & Co. are already separated by 17 points with one game less on their account. A comeback in the championship race is only possible with a lot of support, and Atlético Madrid must also get back on track themselves.

Will the series of bankruptcies continue?

The team recently suffered four defeats in a row. After the latest defeat against FC Granada, the “Rojiblancos” even had to give way from fourth place. Nevertheless, “El Cholo’s” team still has the chance to make amends. With a win on Sunday afternoon, Atlético can regain fourth place.

The match against Rayo Vallecano comes at a good time for Atletico Madrid. At home, the “Colchoneros” have won each of the last eight home games against their upcoming opponents since October 2001. In the last three home games, Atlético even went without conceding a goal against Rayo. If Atlético Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano win another match, odds of 1.37 are paid for tip 1.

The performance of the defence is particularly important. In recent weeks, there has been no sign of the “Rojiblancos” defensive bulwark. In the last four match days, the Simeone team has scored a total of eight times. Against Rayo, Llorente, Vrsaljko, Savic and Giménez will still have to miss the game due to injury.

According to recent media reports, head coach Simeone will be quarantined following a positive test, alongside players such as Griezmann, Herrera, Felix and Koke.

Predicted line-up of Atletico Madrid:
Oblak – Felipe, Hermoso, Kondogbia – Serrano – Carrasco, de Paul, Lemar, Trippier – Suarez, Correa

Last matches played by Atletico Madrid:

LaLiga
12/22 2021 – Granada 2 – 1 Atletico Madrid

12/18 2021 – Sevilla 2 – 1 Atletico Madrid

12/12 2021 – Real Madrid 2 – 0 Atletico Madrid

Champions League Grp. B
12/07 2021 – FC Porto 1 – 3 Atletico Madrid

LaLiga
12/04 2021 – Atletico Madrid 1 – 2 Mallorca

Rayo Vallecano – Statistics & current form

Rayo Vallecano is one of the surprise teams of the current season. The club from the Madrid district of Vallecas even fought their way into the top quarter of the table in the final weeks of the 2021 calendar year and currently even greets from fourth place. In order to defend their place in the top flight on their own merits, they have a crucial six-point game against Atlético this weekend.

Although Rayo have played a strong first half of the season so far, it is more than risky to make a prediction on the visitors in the city derby against Sunday’s opponents in Atletico Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano. So far, the “Franjirrojos” have won only one of nine away games in the Spanish top flight. In return, they have already lost six away games this season.

Rayo Vallecano are nevertheless confident going into the match against Atlético. Just two months ago, the promoted team defied leaders Real Madrid and lost by a narrow margin of 1:2. It is quite possible that a match of equals will follow against Atlético as well.

Defensive bulwark the showpiece of Rayo

The Rayo defence has been particularly convincing so far. With only 18 goals conceded in 18 matchdays, head coach Andoni Iraola’s team has the fourth strongest defence in La Liga. Only Bilbao, Sevilla and Real Madrid conceded fewer goals than Iraola’s squad in that period.

However, compared to their performances at home, where Rayo are the strongest team in the Spanish top flight with a record of 8-1-0, the “Franjirrojos” have stumbled away from home. The fourth-placed team in the table has a record of 1-2-6 away from home, conceding an average of almost two goals per game.

To make matters worse, 17 players as well as head coach Iraola are not allowed to play in Sunday’s match after positive tests. Rayo will therefore be forced to start the rotation machine. If you want to bet on Atletico Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano, you can get betting odds of up to 11.00 in case of success.

Predicted line-up of Rayo Vallecano:
Dimitrievski – Garcia, Catena, Saveljich, Balliu – Valentin, Comesana – Palazon, Trejo, Garcia – Guardiola

Last matches played by Rayo Vallecano:

LaLiga
12/18 2021 – Rayo Vallecano 2 – 0 Deportivo Alaves

Copa del Rey
12/15 2021 – Bergantinos CF 1 – 3 Rayo Vallecano

LaLiga
12/12 2021 – Villarreal FC 2 – 0 Rayo Vallecano

12/05 2021 – Rayo Vallecano 1 – 0 Espanyol

Copa del Rey
12/02 2021 – Guijuelo (3)1 – 1(4) Rayo Vallecano

Atletico Madrid – Rayo Vallecano Direct comparison / H2H record

Atlético Madrid and Rayo Vallecano meet for the 40th time. The “Rojiblancos” currently lead the head-to-head comparison against Rayo with a record of 21-10-8. Atlético have not lost a competitive match against Rayo Vallecano since February 2013. In fact, Simeone’s side have recently won four straight against their city rivals, and Atlético have not even conceded a goal.

At home, Atlético are unbeaten against Sunday’s opponents for almost 20 years. Since then, Atlético Madrid have won each of their last eight home games against Rayo Vallecano.

Atletico Madrid – Rayo Vallecano Tip

On the tenth anniversary of “El Cholo”, Atlético Madrid are experiencing one of the worst negative streaks this century. After all, there have been four defeats in a row in the league lately, putting Atlético out of the championship race – at least with the current gap to Real.

On Sunday, the “Rojiblancos” are now out to make amends and want to at least regain a starting place in the top flight with a win against Rayo Vallecano. Atlético’s neighbours in the standings have made a sensational start to the season so far, but their points haul has been largely down to their home form.

Rayo have been harmless away from home so far, winning only one of their nine away games this season. It would therefore be more than surprising if the “Vallecanos” were to improve their poor away record at home to Atlético, of all teams, given their current personnel problems. Atlético, on the other hand, have the necessary quality across the board to overcome the manageable personnel worries.

With a stake of seven units, we dare to bet on Atletico Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano at odds of 2.00 on HT/FT: 1/1.