Nahuel Molina and Mario Hermoso scored first-half goals to give Atleuitoc Madrid a 2-1 win over Rayo Vallecano in La Liga on Sunday and move closer to rivals Real Madrid in the standings. 

A superb streak of 12 unbeaten league games has propelled Atletico to a 57-point tally – only two points behind second-placed Real, who faced a shock 2-3 defeat at Bernabeu against Villareal on Saturday.

Barcelona, on the other hand, are leading the standings with 71 points with a game left against Girona on Monday.

Molina took the lead in the 22nd minute after Alvaro Morata set up the Argentina international for his first goal since joining the club last summer.

Hermoso doubled his side’s lead a few minutes later with a header from a corner, taking advantage of a poor clearance by Rayo goalkeeper Stole Dimitrievski.

The hosts were a man down after defender Florian Lejeune was sent off early in the second half, but left back Fran Garcia restored some hope by pulling one back in the 85th minute with a brilliant long-range low shot.

The hosts were reduced to 10-man after defender Florian Lejeune’s sent off early in the second half. However, left-back Fran Garcia brought some jubilant moments for the home crowd as he slotted the goal in the 85th minute with a brilliant long-range low shot.

Earlier, Almeria beat Valencia 2-1 to move out of the relegation zone with a minor advantage of three points.

Cadiz thrash nine-man Real Betis 2-0 thanks to second-half goals by Ruben Alcaraz and Chris Ramos.

Mallorca, on the other hand, held Valladolid to a 3-3 draw in the action-packed game at the latter’s home ground, thanks to an extra-time penalty by Vedat Muriqi.

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