Griezmann comes off bench to edge Atletico Madrid ahead of Barcelona

Atletico Madrid kept their nerve to move momentarily to the top of the Spanish Liga table with a narrow 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano as the title race continues to tighten.

Diego Simeone made seven changes to his starting line-up, resting a number of key players including Koke, Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann ahead of next week’s Champions League semi-final second leg clash against Bayern Munich.

But it was Griezmann who scored the winning goal, finding the net just 40 seconds after coming off the bench as a second-half substitute. Atletico Madrid certainly weren’t at their best, with youngsters Oliver Torres and Thomas Partey struggling to make an impression.

Real Madrid recorded a 1-0 win over Real Sociedad earlier in the afternoon, with Gareth Bale scoring a late winner, whilst Barcelona face Real Betis this evening as the Liga title race moves into the final straight.

The gamble paid off for the Atletico Madrid manager, but only after calling on his big guns from the bench. The capital club looked disjointed and uneasy with themselves in the first half with so many key players missing all at the one time. So did Simeone get away with one on this occasion? Can he afford to rest so many members of his first team again?

Koke: Antoine Griezmann made the decisive contribution for Atletico Madrid from the bench, but the introduction of Koke at the break had just as much of an impact. He gave the hosts the midfield control that they had been lacking in the first half and saw Atleti take a grip of the contest after the restart.

Atletico Madrid - Oblak 7, Juanfran 7, Gimenez 7, Lucas 8, Gamez 7, Kranevitter 5, Oliver 5, Thomas 5, Correa 7, Vietto 5. Subs - Griezmann 7, Torres 6, Koke 7.

Rayo Vallecano - Carlos 7, Quini 6, Amaya 7, Crespo 7, Tito 5, Jozabed 6, Llorente 6, Embarba 5, Bebe 5, Miku 7, Guerra 5. Subs - Joni 5, Piti 5, Manucho 5.

7’ WHAT A CHANCE FOR ATLETICO MADRID! Correa takes the shot clean through on goal after a mistake at the back, but Carlos does brilliantly to tip it round the post on the dive.

23’ OBLAK HAS TO MAKE THE SAVE FROM MIKU! The Rayo Vallecano attacker managed to create some space for himself to get the shot away, but the Atletico keeper beats it away.

42’ CORREA SHOOTS AT GOAL! The ball over the top of the Rayo Vallecano defence was a good one, but the Atletico Madrid striker could only shoot straight at the goalkeeper Carlos.

54’ GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1 Rayo Vallecano 0: What a sensational substitution! Griezmann latches on to a loose ball on the edge of the box and smashes home a finish. Wooooft!

86’ CRESPO HAD TO MAKE THAT CHALLENGE! Griezmann looked to have him on toast as he took him on in a race, but the Rayo Vallecano defender stuck with him and made the challenge.

Atletico Madrid have now kept clean sheets in 21 of their 27 Liga wins in 2015/16.

Atletico Madrid have found 16 Liga goals from substitutes this season - more than any other team.