Good afternoon, and welcome to our LIVE coverage of Rayo Vallecano v Atletico Madrid.

Atletico Madrid missed the chance to go top of La Liga before Christmas, with Barcelona away on duty at the Club World Cup, but they are very much part of the title race this season.

Of course, Torres is still searching for his 100th goal as an Atletico Madrid player. But he has been searching for that goal for 19 games now. This is officially a goal drought for him.

Carrasco must think someone is playing a joke on him. There's hardly anyone marking him, so whenever Atletico Madrid come forward on the attack they can find the Belgian in loads of space!

Saul has been very impressive through the centre of midfield. He used to play for Rayo Vallecano, playing for the club on loan from Atletico, and he's making quite the impression on his return.

Paco has gone with three at the back for this game, which isn't exactly the wisest tactic against a side of Atletico Madrid's quality, but it is making for a wonderfully entertaining match!

Ze Castro just got too much on that header. He directed the ball towards Oblak's goal, but the ball flashed over the bar from Jozabed's corner kick delivery. Nice idea, though.

That looked a dubious decision to me! Torres looked to have robbed the ball from Dorado inside his own half, but the referee decides that the striker fouled the defender in doing so.

ACROSS THE FACE OF GOAL! Carrasco once again finds space to run into in behind the Rayo Vallecano defence, but he can't get his shot on target. He was trying to find the far corner!

Was that a backpass? Gamez miscues a clearance, with the ball dropping into the arms of Oblak in the Atletico Madrid goal. The referee decides that it's not and play continues.

If you thought Paco Jemez might go a little more conservative after the drubbing at the hands of Real Madrid 10 days ago, you were wrong. He has stuck by his attacking principles here.

YOEL IS FORCED INTO THE SAVE! Rayo Vallecano are found short at the back, allowing Carrasco to have the shot from about 18 yards out. But the goalkeeper does well to push it clear on the dive.

You could say Gimenez has been involved in the opening 10 minutes of this game. He has committed three fouls and had two headers flash by the post. He's the man of the moment right now.

GIMENEZ GETS HIS HEAD TO THE BALL! Koke's freekick delivery finds the head of the centre-back, who is up from the back for the set-piece, but his glancing header goes wide of the target.

Atletico Madrid need to find a different source of goals. As good as they have been this season, they have struggled to find the net without Griezmann providing the finishing touch.

That was slightly wild from Griezmann. The French striker found some space in behind the Rayo Vallecano backline, but he slashed at his shot and blasted the bal high and wide of the target.

DECENT EFFORT FROM SAUL! The midfielder takes aim from about 25 yards out, slicing across the shot, but it flashes just past the far post. The Rayo keeper was strangely calm about that.

Of course, Rayo Vallecano come into this game on the back of that 10-2 thumping at the hands of Real Madrid. Will that defeat have any effect on their mindset as a team?

Fernando Torres has been preferred in attack for this game by Diego Simeone. He has been picked over Luciano Vietto, who is still struggling to adapt to the ways of his new team.

Only a few seconds of the match have passed and already Gimenez has had a talking to from the referee for a foul on Manucho. The Uruguayan is a battler, that's for sure!

We're under way! It's Rayo Vallecano against Atletico Madrid in La Liga. This should be a good one.

Kick-off!