Angel Correa ‘s brace saw Atletico snap a four-game lose stripe in lanthanum Liga at the expense of Rayo Vallecano. After a brash start to the game, Diego Simeone ‘s side warmed to the task and went in front fair before the half-hour mark when Correa reacted quickest amongst a scrum of players, after Mario Hermoso ‘s shoot was blocked, and rifled a shoot dwelling from close up stove.

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From this point onwards, the result never seemed in doubt and Correa notched another from close rate after a fine move which saw Thomas Lemar set exempt Renan Lodi on the left and he left his striker with an easy job from six yards out. Liga ‘Depends what he wants ‘ – Simeone on Trippier future after Newcastle connection yesterday AT 19:21 The conduct could have been augmented in the close up stages with Yannick Carrasco striking the post and Correa being denied a hat-trick by a all right reaction catch from Luca Zidane. The gain sees Atletico leapfrog their opponents into the fourthly Champions League qualification berth .

TALKING POINT

Possible way forward for Atleti In years past we would marvel at how Simeone got so much from his players to enable them to perform on degree terms, at worst, with real Madrid and Barcelona. immediately, there is so much choice it is arduous to fathom when they do not reach these standards. The change in system to a 4-4-2 today was surely one which will see them look more guarantee. Geoffrey Kondogbia, who like Kieran Trippier has been linked with a move away, was far more comfortable in the center of the field, and as Atleti began to dominate after the behind startle, Thomas Lemar and Yannick Carrasco tormented the opposition on the flanks. It will mean Simeone will have to make hard decisions when his headliner men come back, but one gets the impression this is something the Argentine will revel in. ‘There is not much we can do ‘ – Simeone on Trippier possible move to Prem

MAN OF THE MATCH

Angel Correa (Atletico Madrid) – rarely can you have a team of ball players. Pedro was very significant to the bang-up Barcelona side of the early on 2010s because of his unselfish prevail without the ball. Correa has a alike brief for Atletico with the talented wingers and companion strikers he has as team-mates. In this way, he feels like the final stay utilitarian player from the side built into a world power by Simeone, and it was apt he got the team back into form here .

PLAYER RATINGS

Atletico: Oblak 6 ; Trippier 6, Gimenez 6, Hermoso 6, Lodi 7 ; Kondogbia 7, De Paul 7 ; Lemar 8, Carrasco 8 ; Correa 9*, Suarez 6.

Subs : Cunha 6, Felipe 6. Rayo Vallecano: Zidane 6 ; Balliu 5, Saveljich 6, Maras 7, Fran Garcia 6 ; Comesana 6, Valentin 6 ; Palazon 6, Unai Lopez 6, Rodrigues 6 ; Guardiola 5. Subs : Trejo 7, Bebe 6, Falcao 6, Martin 5 .

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

23′ Suarez one-on-one ! After dispossessing Saveljich, but he looks to dink the musket ball past Zidane only to wholly miss-hit it and it skews well wide. 28′ GOAL FOR ATLETICO! It has been coming. Carrasco ‘s pull rear found Hermoso who saw his snapshot blocked, but as the ball exited a scrum of players, Correa pounced on the rally to give the hosts the jumper cable. 54′ GOAL FOR ATLETICO! And a fine one at that. Lemar drives towards the box then plays a perfect pass to Lodi on the leave flank and his terrific low center is slammed home by Correa. 68′ Off the post! Carrasco is allowed to run into the box and drills a shoot which takes a flimsy deflection off Maras onto the military post. 81′ So close to a hat-trick! Correa meets Carrasco ‘s corner at the front post and clips towards the back post but Zidane saves well tipping away .

KEY STAT

Liga Griezmann, Coutinho and Simeone among new cases as Covid sweeps through La Liga 30/12/2021 AT 10:59

Liga opinion : Can Simeone solve another Atletico Madrid identity crisis ? 19/12/2021 AT 17:07