Not even with the much sought-after trident of Sorloth, Griezmann and Julián Alvarez could Atlético win in Vallecas. The triplet, put into play with the changes at half-time, allowed them to equalise with the goal of that one-piece footballer that is Isi. Then, Atlético did not know how to resolve what it means to play in Vallecas and gave up a draw that already puts them six points behind Barcelona. The disadvantage already turns each game almost into a final if Hansi Flick’s intimidating team continues to add three points at a time and does not find a team that can stop them. Atlético did not play a game worthy of a team that aspires to fight for the title. They were outplayed in many stretches by a good Rayo, who were daring in looking for them in the first half and Cartesian in maintaining the draw.
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Augusto Batalla, Abdul Mumin, Pep Chavarría, Florian Lejeune, Andrei Ratiu, Jorge de Frutos (Iván Balliu, min. 84), Unai López (Óscar Valentín, min. 64), Isi Palazón (Sergi Guardiola, min. 84), Pathé Ciss, Adri Embarba (Sergio Camello, min. 64) and Randy Nteka (James Rodríguez, min. 72)
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Jan Oblak, Samuel Lino (Antoine Griezmann, min. 45), Axel Witsel, Reinildo, César Azpilicueta (José Giménez, min. 44), Nahuel Molina, Conor Gallagher, Koke, Marcos Llorente (Ángel Correa, min. 45), Julián Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth (Giuliano Simeone, min. 84)
Goals
1-0 min. 34: Isi. 1-1 min. 49: Conor Gallagher
Atlético never felt comfortable, with everything new due to the half-dozen rotations Simeone made compared to the Leipzig game. A new defence, with Azpilicueta, Witsel and Reinildo as centre-backs and Nahuel Molina and Lino on the wing-backs. In the middle, Llorente, Koke and Gallagher. It didn’t work. Rayo didn’t allow it. Because of the game and the intensity of the duels. If Simeone was thinking about Vigo to save players, he also kept Íñigo López in reserve, the latter more with his eyes on the second half. Camello and the desired James stayed on the bench. However, the match was ruled by Rayo from the start. Ciss and Unai López contained the trio of Atlético midfielders and Isi, at times, danced with them. He embedded himself behind them and his turns and dribbles hurt. On the wing, Simeone, visibly angry, asked for more pace and work. In Vallecas you have to put on your overalls, a suit that matches that banner working class that shines in the background. If not, Rayo will box you in and tie you up. And that is what they did to Atlético in the first half, who were only able to stretch on a couple of occasions. A shot from Lino and a right-footed shot from Julián Álvarez that broke the crossbar, both opportunities created from what it means to play in that stadium. As soon as a line of pressure is broken, the path to the rival goal is clear.
That was handled better by Iñigo López’s team, who could fly with Ratiu and De Frutos on the right and Chavarría and Embarba on the left. Here they found a mine with Molina, who was shamed by a tunnel. It was De Frutos who applied the law of Vallecas when with a driving pass he scattered the entire defensive system of Atlético in the middle. He opened to the right, where Ratiu unleashed a cross shot that Isi stepped up to meet on the edge of the six-yard box to easily slot home with his inside foot. The goal did justice to Rayo’s game and to the game that Isi was marking, always with the dynamo and the turbine at full power and at the service of his good left foot.
Simeone disappeared through the entrance to the dressing room shaking his head. He was forced to replace the injured Azpilicueta with Giménez on the stroke of half-time. He also operated in the dressing room. He must have felt that the team needed dynamite and football that gave everything it had. He sat down the inconsequential Llorente and Lino and brought on Correa and Griezmann. For the first time he deployed the trident that is demanded of him, the Frenchman, Julián Alvarez and Sorloth. Although that forced him to change the formation and go to a four-man defence. The effect was immediate. Griezmann extended a pass with his toe and left Sorloth one-on-one with Batalla. The Norwegian passed the ball long and slid towards the byline. There he tried to shape up until he saw the arrival of Gallagher. The Englishman scored with his speciality: a tight inside shot from the half moon of the area. A good goal that also rewarded Atlético’s most notable player. The one who best understood throughout the match what had to be put into each dispute.
With the score tied and all the artillery on the pitch, Atlético had more than forty minutes to try to find a victory that they were unable to find. A mid-range shot by Julián Alvarez that Batalla repelled was their only grimace until the end. They became dull, with Álvarez too far to the left and Rayo not allowing him to run and close off all the spaces. And threatening, just in case, when James and Camello came on. Iñigo López’s team did not suffer any final pressures, and even had stretches in which they recovered and took control. They had the equaliser within reach and defended it with solvency.
