Madrid, April 10 (BNA): Atletico Madrid achieved a 2-1 victory at Rayo Vallecano, with first-half goals from Nahuel Molina and Mario Hermoso, to secure its fifth successive victory and move two points ahead of second-placed Real Madrid at half-time. La Liga.
An impressive 12-match unbeaten run has taken Atletico to a tally of 57 points to close the gap on city rivals, who have virtually embraced their title chances after losing to Villarreal on Saturday.
Barcelona, who play Girona on Monday, lead the standings with 71 points.
“We’re thinking of going back to two years ago with the team that won the league. We’ve changed a bit, we’ve had more continuity,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone told DAZN.
“With the injuries in defence, we had more losses in the first half of the season. When we had that break from the World Cup we got back on the right track. The team is playing well and when they commit you can see good things.”
Molina opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, after a quick breakaway, as Alvaro Morata, the right back of World Cup-winning Argentina, scored his first goal since joining the club in the close season from Italian Udinese.
“(Atletico) was a very important change for me,” Molina said. “At the beginning it was difficult for me to get into the dynamic of the team and I didn’t feel at my best.”
“Winning the World Cup gives you a boost. But the important thing is to work during the week, to get to know my team-mates, what the coach asks of me and to do it.”
Hermoso doubled the lead two minutes later with a header from a corner kick, taking advantage of a poor shot by Rayo goalkeeper Stol Dimitrievsky.
“We wanted to get back to where we were two years ago when we were champions and winning again,” said Hermoso.
“It’s a very good team, we’re great teammates. Now we want to keep winning. It’s always good to contribute a goal.”
The hosts were trailing after defender Florian Lejeune was sent off early in the second half, but left-back Fran Garcia restored some hope by pulling one back in the 85th minute with a low, long-range strike.
Atletico will host Almeria, which is threatened with relegation, next Saturday, while Rayo, ninth with 37 points, will meet Osasuna on Friday.
ZHB