Despite VAR: Depay's lucky punch kills Rayo

Score the late winner against Rayo Vallecano: Memphis Depay.
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With four straight wins in all competitions, Atletico Madrid entered the 'little derby' before the big derby. You should warm up for the Madrileno derby against Real Madrid against city rival Rayo Vallecano. However, Diego Simeone has made plenty of changes to his starting line-up, making seven changes from the 2-0 win over Valencia at the weekend. Vermeeren made his debut and replaced Koke in the team, while Witsel, Hermoso, Llorente, Saul Niguez, Riquelme and Correa also started with Savic, Jimenez, Molina, De Paul, Leno and Griezmann.

The visitors were held to a 0-0 draw by Real Sociedad at the weekend, and as a result Francisco Javier Rodriguez Vilchez shuffled his team in three positions: Baliu, Unai Lopez and Trejo were removed, and Ratio, Kiki and Alvaro were new.

Alvaro tackles Reyneldo

There is a bed in the house next to each other from the home, and in this group of people, in the last minute of the 29th of the month of Atletico last month – vermeintlich: Correa hatte Rayo-Schlussmann Dimitrievski um kurvt und abgeschlossen, Chavarrias Rettungstat kam nach Betrachtung der VAR- Builder Too late. The goal was scored anyway, and it was clear from the pictures that Correa was offside as soon as Riquelme passed (30).

However, Atletico now had the upper hand, which Reineldo rewarded shortly afterwards. The defender, who had recently returned from the Africa Cup of Nations, rose from a free kick and headed home in the 35th minute. The goal was checked again, but this time the hosts were lucky. Although the scorer had pulled the opponent's jersey, the goal remained. However, Rayo was not deterred either, as the visitors reset the clock before the end of the first half: the Madridistas gave Alvaro plenty of space on the edge of the penalty area and he punished that with a good shot into the net (42).

Depay's second attempt is important

After the break, Simeone reacted to his team's mixed performance so far and brought new energy to the pitch at intervals. They deserved it in the final stretch, as Atletico now pressed for the winning goal, which Memphis also supposedly scored: after a brilliant pass from Barrios, the Dutchman scored safely – but VAR called again and replayed the goal due to an offside situation.

The host team continued its steadfastness and achieved victory in the final stage. After the ball was exchanged between substitutes Griezmann and Molina, the Frenchman passed again to Depay in midfield, who acted faster than his goalkeeper, Arridan, and shot. The shot, which was actually very central, slipped through Dimitrievskiy's fingers, which is why Depay was allowed to move away to celebrate (90th minute). In the aftermath of the goal, emotions ran high because Rayo coach Francisco Javier Rodriguez Vilchez called for a particularly aggressive foul – and was sent off with a red card.

In the end, there was a deserved home win for Atletico, who head into the derby against Real Madrid next weekend having won five competitive matches. The match will take place at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday at 9pm. Rayo has another day off, on Monday (9pm) they face Sevilla.