Atletico Madrid will be looking to finish the calendar year on a high note by recording another victory in their La Liga game against Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday.
The 2013-14 Spanish League champions are second in the league this season, and are level on points with defending champions Barcelona. Both teams are on 35 points, and the battle between the two will be one to watch as we enter 2016.
Real Madrid, placed third with 33 points, are also in the competition. The battle for the La Liga 2015-16 title will be a close one in the second half of the season.
All three teams have the chance to enter 2016 as table-toppers. While Real Madrid face 14th-placed Real Sociedad, Barcelona play Real Betis, placed 11 in the table at the moment. Both matches take place today.
Atletico, meanwhile, take on Rayo in what can be seen as a rather comfortable away match on paper. Rayo are currently 18th in the table, and have four losses from their last five league games. However, the home side will be looking to make a strong statement in their last game of the calendar year today at the Vallecas.
Diego Simeone's side, meanwhile, saw their winning run in the La Liga come to an end after five games against Malaga just before the winter break. And that has made the club worry a bit. There are some regrets among players after that narrow defeat.
"We haven't been sharp, but the team has fought, it has tried hard and could have won. It would not have been fair, but we could have won," Atletico Madrid left-back Filipe Luis said after their last game.
They will be looking for a turnaround today, and Rayo Vallecano have to be prepared for that.
Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres form a lethal attacking line for Atletico Madrid, and Rayo coach Paco Jemez knows it is hard to stop the duo. "It's hard to stop [Griezmann, in particular]. He's a very mobile player who has no fixed area," the Rayo manager said ahead of the game. "We must pay close attention to him and try to stop him."
Torres, meanwhile, will be looking for his 100th goal in the Atletico Madrid jersey today. He is stuck on 99 goals so far.
Possible starting XI
Rayo Vallecano: Yoel; Quini, Antonio Amaya, Ze Castro, Nacho Martinez; Jozabed, Roberto Trashorras; Bebe, Pablo Hernandez, Lass; Javi Guerra.
Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak; Juanfran, Josema Gimenez, Diego Godin, Guilherme Siqueira; Oliver, Saul, Thomas, Koke; Antoine Griezmann, Fernando Torres.
Where to watch the game
Rayo vs Atletico Madrid is scheduled to kick-off at 5:15 pm GMT (10:45 pm IST, 12:15 pm ET) on Wednesday, 30 December.
In India, viewers can catch the game on Sony Kix. Online streaming will be available on SonyLiv.
In the UK and Ireland, viewers can catch the game on Sky Sports 2/HD and Now TV. Online streaming will be available on Sky Go and Sky Go Extra.
In the US, viewers can catch the game on beIN Sports USA, beIN Sports en Espanol and Fubo TV. Online streaming will be available on beIN Sports Connect.
In Spain, viewers can catch the game on Canal+ Liga/HD and Abono Futbol. Online streaming will be available on Movistar TV.
The live scores of the game will be available on Bet365.
