Cholo's paradox: you destroy Barca on Thursday, then Rayo batter you on Sunday

Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid are impossible to predict.

A team built on steel and firepower, capable of destroying anyone - and then collapsing without warning. February has been a brutal reminder of that duality.

Atletico’s torture of Barca in four acts – defending champions humiliated in Madrid

Three days after thrashing Betis 5-0 in the Copa del Rey, Cholo Simeone's men lost 1-0 to the same opponent in La Liga. They then dismantled Barcelona 4-0 in Madrid on Thursday night, only to suffer a humiliation of their own on Sunday at Rayo Vallecano, 3-0.

Yes, there were nine changes from the Barca win, but this was no Los Colchoneros B-team. Yet Atleti looked empty, as if they had left their soul at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Rayo, winless in three and without a little Madrid city derby victory in 13 years, played with hunger and fury. Fran Perez struck before the break. Oscar Valentin punished defensive chaos minutes later. Atletico were shaken, and they never recovered.

Simeone threw on reinforcements, but nothing changed. A late third from Nobel Mendy sealed the collapse, as Rayo climb to 16th place with 25 points. Atletico remain fourth on 45, and as unpredictable as ever.

LA LIGA - MATCHDAY 24

Friday

Elche - Osasuna 0-0

Saturday

Espanyol - Celta 2-2 (0-1)

/Garcia 66, Dolan 86 - Jutgla 38, Iglesias 90+3/

Getafe - Villareal 2-1 (1-0)

/Arambarri 41 pen, Satriano 53 - Mikautadze 76/

Sevilla - Alaves 1-1 (1-0)

/Sow 42 - Martinez 60/

Real Madrid - Sociedad 4-1 (3-1)

/Garcia 5, Vinicius 25 pen, 48 pen, Valverde 31 - Oyarzabal 21 pen/

Sunday

Oviedo - Athletic Bilbao 1-2 (1-0)

/Chaira 30 - Jauregizar 58, Sancet 71 pen/

Rayo Vallecano - Atletico Madrid 3-0 (2-0)

/Perez 40, Valentin 45, Mendy 76/

Levante - Valencia 0-2 (0-0)

/Ramazani 64, Sadiq 84/

23.00: (2.85) Mallorca (3.30) Betis (2.50)

Monday

23.00: (7.00) Girona (5.50) Barcelona (1.38)

***odds are subject to change***