In a surprising turn of events, Rayo Vallecano claimed a decisive 3-0 victory against Atlético Madrid in the 24th round of La Liga, putting a damper on Atlético Madrid's recent triumph over Barcelona. The match, held on Sunday, showcased a vigorous performance from Rayo, who took full advantage of their home ground at Estadio de Vallecas. Their victory came as a shock, particularly following Atlético's impressive 4-0 win against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals just days earlier, which had elevated the team's morale significantly.

Rayo Vallecano opened the scoring in the 40th minute with a powerful right-footed shot from Fran Pérez, following a pass from his teammate Andrei Ratkov. This goal set the tone for the rest of the match, and just five minutes later, Oscar Valentín added a second for Rayo with a left-foot shot that found the bottom corner of the net, leaving Atlético's goalkeeper Jan Oblak with little chance. The home team further sealed their victory in the second half when Noble Mendy scored a third goal with a header from a corner executed by Álvaro García in the 76th minute, highlighting Rayo's dominance in the match.

The defeat places increased pressure on Atlético Madrid and their coach Diego Simeone, particularly as they prepare for an upcoming fixture against Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage. The loss not only impacts Atlético's standing in La Liga but also raises concerns about the team's consistency and performance during a critical phase of the season. As they grapple with this unexpected setback, it remains to be seen how they will respond in their upcoming challenges.