Atlético Madrid hosts their neighbor Rayo Vallecano this evening at the Metropolitano Stadium, as part of the sixth round of the La Liga Primera Division.

This match comes at a tough time for Atlético, who currently sit in twelfth place in the La Liga standings with only 6 points, alongside a lackluster performance from the team.

Although it is still early in the season, Atlético Madrid has shown signs of being unable to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona for the La Liga title this year.

The situation may be even worse for the fans of the Rojiblancos regarding securing a spot in the Champions League, with strong teams like Villarreal, Athletic Bilbao, and Real Betis in contention.

Criticism of the team's Argentine manager Diego Simeone has been increasing week by week due to the team's performance and results, despite several good signings made.

Many believe that after years of inconsistency, it is time for Simeone to leave the team, having been in this position since 2011.

Perhaps the small derby against Rayo Vallecano today, followed by the big derby against Real Madrid in a few days, will play a role in clarifying where things are headed.