Vallecano 3-0 Atletico: Simeone's side see faint title hopes dented further

Atletico Madrid slipped to back-to-back LaLiga defeats as two quickfire goals at the end of the first half contributed to them losing 3-0 to Rayo Vallecano at the Estadio Ontime Butarque. 

2025/2026 La Liga

3-0

Match Report

Diego Simeone's side came into Sunday's contest having thumped Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, but they were unable to get themselves going here. 

Pacha Espino had the game's first real opportunity in the 31st minute, but after racing in behind the Atletico defence, his stinging shot was repelled by Jan Oblak at his near post.

But Vallecano deservedly led five minutes before the break when Fran Perez swept Andrei Ratiu's cross past Oblak, and it got even better for Inigo Perez's side soon after. 

Clement Lenglet's sloppy pass was intercepted, which allowed Ilias Akhomach to cut the ball back for Isi Palazon. His attempt was brilliantly saved by Oblak down to his left, but Oscar Valentin was the quickest to react to tuck home the rebound. 

After seeing a shot cleared off the line at the end of the first half, Nico Gonzalez saw two efforts in quick succession thwarted by Augusto Batalla as Atletico looked to mount a response on the hour. 

However, even with the introductions of Julian Alvarez and Ademola Lookman, the visitors fell further behind when Nobel Mendy nodded Alvaro Garcia's delivery into the back of the net following a short corner routine in the 76th minute.

Data Debrief: Contrasting first halves for underwhelming Atleti

Having scored four goals in the first 45 minutes against Barcelona in midweek, Atletico were unable to replicate those heroics as they failed to cut the gap to Real Madrid and Hansi Flick's champions. 

They struggled to find any rhythm in the final third, and at the other end, Atletico conceded seven shots on target before half-time, their highest tally in the first half of a LaLiga match since March 2011 against Real Madrid (also seven). 

Vallecano, who earned their first league victory over Atletico since a 2-1 triumph under Paco Jemez in February 2013, ended the match with an expected goals (xG) total of 1.56 from their 13 shots, nine of which were on target, compared to their opponents' 1.1 from nine attempts. 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

19' Match Event for Vallecano vs Atletico

31' Match Event for Vallecano vs Atletico

38' Match Event for Vallecano vs Atletico

40' GOAL! Vallecano 1-0 Atletico (Fran Pérez)

45' GOAL! Vallecano 0-2 Atletico (Óscar Valentín)

57' Match Event for Vallecano vs Atletico

63' Highlight from Vallecano vs Atletico

76' GOAL! Vallecano 3-0 Atletico (Nobel Mendy)

91' Match Event for Vallecano vs Atletico

Line-ups

Vallecano XI: Lejeune, Augusto Batalla, Gumbau, Alfonso Espino, Óscar Valentín, Isi Palazón, Jorge de Frutos, Andrei Rațiu, Fran Pérez, Ilias Akhomach, Nobel Mendy

Subs: Óscar Trejo, Balliu, Unai López, Álvaro García, Pedro Díaz, Luiz Felipe, Abdul Mumin, Sergio Camello, Randy Nteka, Alemão, Juanpe Gil, Jozhua Vertrouwd

Atletico XI: Oblak, Lenglet, Sørloth, Gimenez, Molina, N. Gonzalez, Álex Baena, Thiago Almada, Matteo Ruggeri, Johnny Cardoso, Rodrigo Mendoza

Subs: Griezmann, Koke, Musso, Llorente, Le Normand, Dávid Hancko, Lookman, Alvarez, Marc Pubill, Giuliano Simeone, Salvi Esquivel, Obed Vargas