Photo by David S.Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images

A chance to solidify top-four positioning. Atlético de Madrid can widen the gap to fifth place in LALIGA ? and narrow it with respect to the top of the table ? with another home victory Wednesday night against local rivals Rayo Vallecano.
Atlético Madrid (14-2-5, 44 points) extended its home unbeaten run to 27 games after swatting aside Valencia on Sunday night, and winning this Supercopa-enforced make-up game against Rayo (5-9-7, 24 points) would move Los Rojiblancos five points clear of Copa del Rey semifinal rival Athletic Club in fifth.
Atlético could also reduce the gap to Girona, 11-point leaders for now pending the result of Real Madrid?s visit to Getafe on Thursday night. Atleti visit Real Madrid in the derby on Sunday. ?I don?t have time to think about that many things relating to a rival. I?m only thinking about Rayo, then Sunday?s game, and then Athletic,? Diego Simeone told the media on Tuesday. ?When do we play again, (next) Thursday" Ah, Wednesday, I thought it was Thursday.?
Simeone isn?t the only one whose head is spinning due to all the recent activity on and off the pitch. Atlético?s proposed loan move for Juventus striker Moise Kean fell through on Tuesday afternoon after it was revealed that the player failed his medical ? he will return to Italy, and the club will not incorporate another forward before the transfer window shuts on Thursday. This means Ángel Correa, hea...