Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano - prediction, team news, lineups

Diego Simeone's side, who are third in the table, will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, while Rayo drew 0-0 with Getafe last time out.

Match preview

Atletico face a battle to qualify for the knockout round of the Champions League, having only picked up four points from their opening four matches in Group B, which has left them in third spot, two points behind second-placed Porto, but Simeone's side are in strong form in the league.

Indeed, the Red and Whites have been victorious in their last three La Liga fixtures, including a 1-0 success over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday, with Antoine Griezmann scoring the only goal of the match in the 47th minute.

A record of six wins, one draw and two defeats from nine matches has seen Atletico collect 19 points, which has left them in third spot in the table, only three points behind second-placed Barcelona, who suffered a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid in El Clasico on Sunday afternoon.

Simeone's side are unbeaten in the league since the Madrid derby in the middle of September, and they have another three La Liga fixtures to come before the end of the month, also taking on Real Betis and Cadiz.

Atletico have a huge Champions League home game against Bayer Leverkusen on October 26, meanwhile, with the team looking to join Club Brugge in qualifying for the next round of the competition from Group B.

Rayo, meanwhile, will enter this fixture off the back of a goalless draw with Getafe on Friday, which has left them in 10th position in the table on 11 points.

The capital side have won three, drawn two and lost four of their nine league games during a solid start, and they have only been beaten in two of their last five in Spain's top flight.

Andoni Iraola's side finished 12th in La Liga last season on their return to the top level, and there have been plenty of positive signs early in this campaign, as they bid to make it back-to-back seasons in the top flight for the first time since 2016.

Rayo have not managed to beat Atletico in La Liga since February 2013, losing each of their last seven games with the Red and Whites, which is an indication of the size of their task in this match.

Los Franjirrojos have also been beaten in their last three away league games, conceding eight times in the process, with their last success on the road coming against Espanyol in the middle of August.

Atletico Madrid La Liga form:

D

W

L

W

W

W

Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):

L

W

L

W

D

W

Rayo Vallecano La Liga form:

L

W

L

W

L

D

Team News

Atletico will again be missing Marcos Llorente and Felipe on Tuesday evening through injury, while Jan Oblak is a doubt after suffering a concussion against Athletic last time out.

Oblak will need to be assessed ahead of this match, but no risks will be taken, so it would not be a surprise to see the 29-year-old sit out this particular contest.

Griezmann is again expected to be joined in the front two by Alvaro Morata, but there could be a change in a wide area on Tuesday, with Angel Correa potentially taking the place of Rodrigo de Paul.

As for Rayo, Ruben de Tomas remains on the sidelines with a groin problem, while Andres Martin is again expected to be unavailable due to a shoulder problem.

The visitors did not suffer any fresh fitness problems against Getafe, though, so head coach Iraola is expected to have the same squad available to him for this match.

There could be a change in the final third of the field, with Radamel Falcao potentially coming in for Sergio Camello, while Unai Lopez could be brought into the side to freshen the midfield.

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Grbic; Molina, Savic, Gimenez, Reinildo; Correa, Koke, Kondogbia, Lemar; Griezmann, Morata

Rayo Vallecano possible starting lineup:

Dimitrievski; Balliu, Lejeune, Catena, F Garcia; Valentin, U Lopez; Palazon, Trejo, A Garcia; Falcao

We say: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Rayo Vallecano

Rayo drew at Barcelona earlier this season and are certainly capable of picking up a positive result in this match, but it is always difficult to back against Atletico at Wanda Metropolitano, and we are expecting the Red and Whites to secure all three points courtesy of a 2-0 scoreline.

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