Rayo Vallecano stopped Atlético's recovery in the League, which had just come from three consecutive victories and could not get past the tie at the Metropolitano in a game that they had practically won. Rayo equalized in added time with a VAR penalty the goal scored in the first half by Morata. To the greater sorrow of the mattress fans, the author of the goal was an old idol of the house, Radamel Falcao, who did not celebrate the goal.
Diego Simeone had to improvise a team without Oblak or Koke, injured. During the match, the colchoneros also lost Lemar due to injury.
The match was unbalanced in the 20th minute when Atlético took advantage of an error in Rayo's ball exit by Fran García. Griezmann recovered, who played a good first half, and put in a measured center for Morata to define with a cross shot against Dmitrievski. Iraola's men hardly bothered Grbic in the first half, starting due to the absence of the Slovenian goalkeeper.
Atlético did not have many more chances before the break, but in the 39th minute Lemar was injured, replaced by Carrasco. The Rayo that started the second half was very different, much more offensive. In the 49th minute Pathé Ciss was able to equalize, but his header after a cross from Álvaro García skimmed the post.
From then on, the game was an exchange of chances, with little elaborate game and balls looking for the opposite area. Morata had the first for the locals, in a play in which the Madrid player asked for a penalty that was not granted. It was the last thing he did because two minutes later, in the 61st minute, he was replaced by Cunha. As soon as the Brazilian entered, he finished off dangerously, but Dmitrievski saved.
In that give and take, the next opportunity went to Sergio Camello, the mattress youth squad now at Rayo. He then it was the turn of another former Calderón idol, Radamel Falcao. The one who ended up scoring was Griezmann in the 80th minute, but the goal was annulled for offside.
The key play would come in the addition. A cross from Nteka hit Giménez's outstretched arm. The referee did not see him, but he was warned of what had happened from the VOR room. Iglesias Villanueva approached the monitor and whistled for a penalty, which was converted by Radamel Falcao, who did not celebrate the goal. In the following actions, Atlético attacked out of desperation. Reinildo threw himself into the area, but he did not fool the referee. Atlético lost two points that they already believed in their pocket.
