Atletico de Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano preview - Atletico enjoy home comforts

Posted Sunday, December 04, 2011 by PA

Atletico Madrid will defend their unbeaten home record in La Liga on Sunday when they host Rayo Vallecano, a side level with them on points in mid-table.

Atletico's dire away form - they are yet to win on their travels in the league this season - has kept them down in the standings, but they have taken 15 points from seven games at home, accounting for all but one of their overall tally.

They did at least enjoy some joy outside the Estadio Vicente Calderon this week with a Europa League victory over Celtic in Glasgow, but one of their most impressive performers in their match, Arda Turan, returned home with a muscular injury.

Coach Gregorio Manzano said after the match he expected Arda to play this weekend.

"Arda does not have a serious injury, just a strain in the adductor," he said. "I hope he'll be okay."

However, Arda did not take part in training after the team returned to Madrid, with Adrian Lopez also missing after he was admitted to hospital following a bout of gastroenteritis, and both are doubtful to play in the match.

Rayo head into the game after back-to-back defeats, including a 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Barcelona this week, but midfielder Miguel Perez Cuesta believes they are going about things the right way and just need their luck to change in front of goal.

"The last two matches have still left us with some positive feelings, even though we have failed to score," he told the club's website.

"We have our way of playing and we are not going to change. We're doing well. The coach is convinced of this and the team knows what to do.

"What happens is that these teams are very good, so if you make a mistake you do not get any points. But we are following the right line."