Atlético Madrid Vs Rayo Vallecano

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​Atlético Madrid are set to host Rayo Vallecano at the Cívitas Metropolitano on Thursday, aiming to rebound from a recent setback against Las Palmas. Currently occupying third place in La Liga, Atlético are eager to solidify their position, while Rayo Vallecano, sitting in 10th, seek to enhance their prospects for European competition.​

Atlético's season, once filled with promise, has encountered turbulence in recent weeks. Their aspirations in both the Champions League and Copa del Rey were dashed by city rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. In La Liga, a series of inconsistent performances has seen them drop crucial points, including a narrow defeat to Las Palmas, where a late goal sealed their fate.​

Despite these challenges, Atlético's home form remains formidable. They have maintained an impressive record at the Metropolitano, with 11 wins, four draws, and only one loss in their 16 home league matches this season. Historically, they have dominated encounters with Rayo Vallecano, remaining unbeaten in their last 17 competitive meetings, securing 13 victories and four draws.

Rayo Vallecano, on the other hand, have experienced a dip in form, winning just one of their previous nine league matches. Their recent fixtures include a heavy home defeat to Espanyol and a loss to Athletic Club, despite initially taking the lead. A draw against Valencia in their latest outing extended their winless streak at home to five matches. Nevertheless, they remain within striking distance of European qualification spots, trailing by a mere two points for a Conference League position and three for the Europa League.​

The upcoming match presents an opportunity for Atlético to reaffirm their dominance and for Rayo to break a long-standing away drought against their hosts, having not secured an away league victory over Atlético since August 1999. Both teams will be keenly aware of the stakes as they vie for crucial points in the closing stages of the season.