Atletico cruise to 3-0 home win over Rayo Vallecano

Goals from Alexander Sorloth, Conor Gallagher and Julian Alvarez powered Atletico Madrid to a 3-0 home win over city rivals Rayo Vallecano on Thursday, strengthening their grip on third place in LaLiga.

With their league title hopes all but over after a 1-0 loss at Las Palmas, Diego Simeone's side bounced back to move up to 66 points, six clear of fourth-placed Athletic Bilbao.

"It was a pretty entertaining match with attacking play and dangerous chances for both teams, which I'm sure we could have handled better," coach Simeone told reporters. "In the second half, the team played with more order. The play that led to the third goal was exquisite."

Sorloth opened the scoring just three minutes in, heading home Giuliano Simeone's cross at the far post, and the Norwegian nearly doubled his tally four minutes later, only to be denied by Rayo goalkeeper Augusto Batalla.

Gallagher then rose highest to nod in a pinpoint delivery from Rodrigo De Paul and double the lead shortly before the break, while Alvarez sealed the win in the 77th minute with a tidy finish from substitute Antoine Griezmann's fine assist.

"I am happy on a personal level. I try to improve every day. I don't look at statistics," said striker Alvarez, who has scored 27 goals in all competitions this season.

"We have to keep working... We know it's not easy (to win the league) we're a long way behind in the standings. We're focusing on ourselves."

The visitors threatened before halftime and continued to press throughout the second half, but efforts from Isi Palazon and Alvaro Garcia were denied by Jan Oblak, whose sharp saves proved vital in keeping Atletico's clean sheet.

The defeat leaves Rayo 11th with 41 points, five away from European spots.

"Despite the result, I think Rayo fans can feel proud," Rayo forward Palazon said. "We lacked a cutting edge in front of goal. We had our chances. They have great goalkeeper.

"We are ambitious. We show it. We have to keep going."