Rayo Vallecano drew 1-1 with Atlético Madrid on Tuesday, ending the rival’s three-game winning streak in the Spanish league. Radamel Falcao converted a penalty kick two minutes into stoppage time.
Falcao, a former Atlético player, scored in the Metropolitano Stadium following a handball by José Mara Giménez inside the area.
“It feels like a victory,” Falcao said. “We never gave up and kept pushing until the end and got rewarded with the goal.”
lvaro Morata opened the scoring in the 20th minute for Atlético, which was trying to narrow the gap on Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of the table.
It remained two points behind of second-place Barcelona and five points behind leader Real Madrid. This round has yet to be played by Madrid and Barcelona.
Rayo remained in tenth place despite losing three straight games.
Atlético was attempting to move on from its troubles in the Champions League, where it is facing elimination following a three-game winless skid in the group stage.
Diego Simeone’s side is currently third in Group B, two points behind second-place Porto and six points behind leader Club Brugge.
“We have to stay positive and get back to work as soon as possible,” said Morata, who put the hosts on the board with a low shot from close range after an assist by Antoine Griezmann.
Morata and Griezmann started again, with João Félix relegated to the bench one more time.
Griezmann had a goal disallowed for offside in the 81st.
Valencia drop points
Edinson Cavani scored again but Valencia couldn’t earn a win after defender José Luis Gayà missed a penalty kick 12 minutes into second-half stoppage time.
Cavani gave the visitors the lead in the sixth minute, his third goal in two games after a blank start with Valencia.
Erik Lamela equalised for Sevilla in the 86th minute, while Gayà’s penalty effort was saved by Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bono late in the game.
Kike Salas of Sevilla was sent off for the foul that resulted in the late penalty.
Sevilla, managed by freshly hired Jorge Sampaoli, had just won at Mallorca, snapping a six-match losing streak in all competitions. Eighth-place Valencia had drawn with last-place Elche at home in the previous round.
