That is your lot for tonight. Be sure to read the reports of the Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid wins on this very website as well as looking out for future reports on the Lazio v AC Milan game (which is into the second half and is now 2-1 to the home side after two goals in four minutes from Marco Parolo and Miroslav Klose) and on David Moyes' Real Sociedad v Eibar.

We'll be back again tomorrow with more European football, including Fiorentina v Roma (7:45pm), Valencia v Sevilla (8pm) and St Etienne v PSG (8pm). I'll see thee.

Image source, Getty Images

Earlier today, Cristiano Ronaldo was sent off during Real Madrid's 2-1 win at Cordoba for kicking out at Edimar. He didn't look very sorry when he left the pitch stroking the Fifa badge on his shirt, but he has since apologised via Twitter., external He wrote: "Pido disculpas a todos y especialmente a Edimar por mi acto irreflexivo en el partido de hoy", which I can assure English speakers is an apology.

Image source, Reuters

It is a win each for the top three in La Liga and the gaps between them remain the same. Real Madrid top the table with 48 points, one ahead of second-placed Barcelona and four in front of Atletico in third.

In the end it was more comfortable than predicted at half-time. Atletico's superiority came to the fore in the second half and after Manucho's own goal had restored the two-goal home advantage, Diego Simeone's side refused to give the away side a way back in.

Fernando Torres is given a superb chance to get the first La Liga goal of his second Atletico spell. Antoine Griezmann is very unselfish (especially in the circumstances) to give Torres possession when he could have gone himself, but the striker takes a touch too many and allows Tono to come out and block.

Ze castro unleashes a shot from 35 yards for Rayo, more in hope that belief. It is every inch a defenders shot, including all the ones by which it cleared the goal. High, wide and ugly. There are going be three added minutes. Just three more for Rayo to suffer.

The one player on the pitch who really does still have the bit between his teeth is Antoine Griezmann, who is hunting a hat-trick. He comes within an inch of getting it as well by charging into the Rayo half and past a challenge before driving a low shot against the post. It was great play and deserved more.

Fernando Torres has not been in the game much since coming on but he looks to play a one-two with Raul Garcia on the edge of the box and is denied an opening on goal by the latter's heavy contribution to the move. Nice thought, poor execution.

Rayo's second substitution. Gael Kakuta departs and Alex Moreno comes on, not that it will make much difference to this game now. Atletico are in complete control.

It is half-time in Rome, where home side Lazio are trailing 1-0 to AC Milan. Jeremy Menez scored the goal in the fourth minute.

Another Atletico substitution sees Raul Garcia come on for Arda Turan.

Oh, there was your chance Rayo. Substitute Alberto Bueno is in acres of space in the box and has the chance to turn and fire a shot on goal but he fails to make any proper contact and the ball dribbles hopelessly wide. That could have made the last 12 minutes very interesting. Instead, it looks like we'll be watching Atletico ease to victory.

Manucho has a chance to make amends for his own goal as Rayo break and the ball is fed to him 30 yards out. But his shot is lazy and rises way over the goal. The visitors have given up on this.

Rayo look like a beaten team now, even though there are 16 minutes to go. Gael Kakuta looks to break away but he is closed down and robbed of possession by two Atletico players. There weren't many Rayo players in support, desperate to be given the ball.

Beanie-sporting Rayo coach Paco Jemez makes a change of his own as Alberto Bueno (who had a loan spell with Derby County in the 2010/11 season) comes on for Mohammed Fatau.

Off goes Mario Mandzukic and on comes local hero Torres, who is seeking his first La Liga goal in his second spell at Atletico.

The Atletico fans have found their voice again. They sense that this game is won already and are going to enjoy the last 20-odd minutes with a few tunes. Diego Simeone is going to make a change. And it is going to be a popular one. Fernando Torres is stripped and ready for action.

We've got about 25 minutes left at the Vicente Calderon. If Rayo are going to get anything from this game they need something to happen very soon. But at the moment, Atletico are firmly in control. Diego Simeone may be considering some changes right now, with Barcelona to come on Wednesday.

And it is almost 4-1 to Atletico as Antoine Griezmann finds a yard in the box but drives his shot a yard past the far post. So, so close to a hat-trick for the France international.

Atletico's pressure pays off as the corner resulting from Ze Castro's block is swung into the six-yard box, where it deflects off the midriff of away striker Manucho and into the goal. It is yet another Rayo error and again it results in a Atletico goal. Rayo have come back to gain a foothold once in this game. They'll have to dig even deeper to do so again.