Atletico Madrid are having a solid season in La Liga, sitting in third place with a nine-point lead over fifth-placed Real Betis. They have been unbeaten in the league since January, winning their last four matches. Although they are not in contention for any trophies this season, they are only five points behind second-placed Real Madrid and have a good chance of finishing the season strong.

Furthermore, Los Rojiblancos have a strong away record, winning eight of their 13 games on the road this season. They have collected 27 points from their away games, which is the third-best record in the league. This will give them confidence as they prepare to face Rayo Vallecano, who have had an impressive season so far.

On the other hand, Rayo Vallecano are enjoying a successful campaign in La Liga, currently sitting in eighth place with 37 points from 27 games. This is a significant improvement from last season when they finished in 12th place on their return to this level.

Moreover, Rayo Vallecano have a good home record, collecting 20 points from 13 games played at their home ground. They will be keen to maintain this record when they square up against Simeone’s men.

However, their recent form has been patchy, with no wins in their last seven games in the league. Both teams will be keen to secure a positive result in their upcoming match. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at this fixture and tries to predict the tactics they could deploy.