The first half was as typical of an Atletico game as you can get. Los Colchoneros are not known for their expansive, free-flowing football and, for the first 20 minutes, they did not threaten Stole Dimitrievski between the Rayo sticks.
When the first opportunity did come the hosts’ way, though, it was dispatched with the efficiency that we have come to associate with Diego Simeone’s side. Antoine Griezmann, fresh from scoring his 100th Atleti goal last time out, was the architect, picking a defender’s pocket and crossing into Alvaro Morata, who swept home from close range.
The visitors were generally toothless prior to the break, with only long-range efforts from Isi Palazon and Ivan Balliu troubling Jan Oblak stand-in, Ivo Grbic.
In fact, had it not been for Thomas Lemar’s muscle injury shortly before the interval, forcing him to be replaced by Yannick Carrasco, it would have been the perfect 45 minutes for Simeone and company.
Few sides are as adept at frustrating opponents when in front as Atletico and, against a team with just one win in their last four outings, they were not going to be overly fazed by this latest defensive mission. Rayo, though, certainly improved after the interval, with lively substitute Sergio Camello - who is currently on loan from Atléti - firing just wide of the post before Falcao air-kicked the former’s through ball when one-on-one with Grbić.
The Spanish outfit appeared to have weathered the small storm, and were inches away from doubling their lead when Griezmann slammed beyond Dimitrievski after straying marginally offside.
Just as it looked as though the three points would belong to Simeone’s men, Jose Maria Gimenez handled in the area and, after a VAR intervention, referee Iglesias Villanueva pointed to the spot.
From 12 yards, Falcao made no mistake to secure an unlikely point for Lor Franjirrojos.
The Colombian’s effort was only Rayo’s second in nine meetings with tonight’s opponents, while they have still not beaten Atletico since 1999.
However, manager Andoni Iraola will be far happier with the outcome than his counterpart Simeone, who will rue his team’s inability to put the clash to bed earlier on.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Antoine Griezmann (Atletico de Madrid)
