MX23RW : Tuesday, November 5 19:40:45| >> :120:34122:34122:
[monks data]
Rayo Vallecano logo
La Liga
Jan 26, 2014 at 6pm UK
 
Atletico Madrid logo

2-4

Viera (40'), Larrivey (77')
FT(HT: 1-3)
Villa (8'), Turan (30', 44'), Niguez (74' og.)

Atletico Madrid top La Liga table

A 4-2 victory against Rayo Vallecano sends Atletico Madrid to the top of the La Liga table.

Atletico Madrid have gone top of the La Liga table after seeing off city-rivals Rayo Vallecano 4-2 at the Estadio Teresa Rivero.

The away side took the lead after just eight minutes when Diego Costa slid the ball to David Villa, with the striker finding the corner of the net from close range.

Atletico de Madrid's football players celebrate after David Villa's goal during the Spanish league football match against Rayo Vallecano de Madrid on January 26, 2014

Minutes later, Rayo were presented with the opportunity to draw level from the spot after Alberto Bueno was adjudged to have been felled in the box by Javi Manquillo.

Jonathan Viera took the resulting penalty kick, only for his effort to be saved by Thibaut Courtois in the Atletico goal to preserve his side's advantage.

The hosts were to rue their missed opportunity as Arda Turan doubled the Rojiblancos lead, tapping home Jose Sosa's pass from a few yards out moments after the winger's own effort was pushed onto the crossbar by Ruben.

Viera did go some way to making up for his earlier miss from the penalty spot by grabbing a goal for Paco Jemez's relegation-threatened side, converting from close range to give Vallecano a lifeline.

Just minutes later, however, Atletico further strengthened their foothold on the contest in the closing stages of the first half courtesy of a Turan header, with the winger grabbing his second of the game following a Gabi free kick.

Costa added a fourth for the league leaders, with the striker converting Filipe Luis's low cross to score his first goal of the year, though in what was a topsy-turvy battle, Rayo hit back immediately through Joaquin Larrivey's strike.

Atletico managed to hold on to their two-goal advantage to extend the club's unbeaten run to 12 matches, and take top-spot in La Liga ahead of Barcelona's later kickoff.

ID:133038: cacheID:133038:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3789:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Atletico boss Diego Simeone on the touchline against Rayo on August 25, 2013
Read Next:
Live Commentary: Rayo 2-4 Atletico - as it happened
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!