Rayo Vallecano - Atlético Madrid: Rayo rout Atleti 3-0 in Butarque
Rayo Vallecano delivered a decisive statement victory, beating Atlético Madrid 3-0 at Butarque and climbing away from the relegation zone. Fran Pérez, Óscar Valentín and Nobel Mendy found the net as the hosts dominated a patched-up Atlético side that looked a long way from its weekend high.
Match summary
The game never swung in Atlético’s favour. Playing in Leganés because their own pitch was unplayable, Rayo imposed themselves from the start and converted that momentum into three clear-cut finishes. Atlético, who made nine changes from the team that had recently dismantled Barcelona, failed to find cohesion; the gulf between their best and this version of the side was evident throughout the 90 minutes.
Fran Pérez opened the scoring with a stunning strike after an incisive move created space on the flank, the kind of collaborative play that set the tone for Rayo’s afternoon. The second and third goals, from Óscar Valentín and Nobel Mendy, compounded Atlético’s difficulties and allowed the home crowd—small in number but vocally intense—to sense relief amid a fraught week for the club.
Turning points and key moments
The first goal proved decisive. A well-worked sequence culminated in Fran Pérez’s finish and left Atlético visibly deflated; defender Diego Godín’s absence was not mentioned but the reaction from Atletico players underlined the blow. There were individuals who tried to lift the team, but overall the visitors lacked the sharpness and defensive coordination needed to turn the game around.
Rayo’s efficiency in the final third contrasted starkly with Atlético’s bluntness. The home side’s ability to convert pressure into goals—three on the day—made this a comfortable win on the scoreboard, and it was the kind of result that can shift momentum for a club fighting to preserve top-flight status.
Aftermath: reactions and repercussions
After the match Atlético’s goalkeeper voiced frustration with the club’s league campaign, saying it felt as if the title chase had been abandoned and warning that selective approaches to fixtures would make competition difficult. The manager rejected that take, praising effort and pointing to positives in recent signings and performances from certain squad members as reasons to remain focused on upcoming fixtures, including a midweek Champions League tie.
Off the pitch, the atmosphere at Butarque reflected mounting unrest among supporters. Rayo’s forced exile to Leganés because of pitch issues, combined with a noticeably underpopulated stadium, heightened fan dissatisfaction; chants demanding the departure of club leadership echoed around the stands and underscored the tense backdrop to a vital three points for the hosts.
For Atlético, the result raises questions about squad rotation and depth when stretched across multiple competitions. For Rayo, the win delivers immediate breathing room in the table and a morale boost that could prove decisive in the run-in. Both clubs now turn quickly to their next fixtures, with Atlético aiming to regroup for European commitments and Rayo hoping to build on the confidence earned in this emphatic home win.
