Afternoon all. Earlier we brought you live coverage of the team that are fourth in the La Liga standings and now we are going to have a look at the side in third - Atletico Madrid. They play host to Granada, who are desperate for the three points in their bid to beat the drop.

Before we get into some pre-match talk and statistics, the team news from the Vicente Calderon has just started to filter through. Let's start with how the away team will begin this one.

GRANADA XI: Roberto; Nyom, Diakhate, Mainz, Angulo; M.Rico, Brahimi, Nolito, Torje; Ighalo, Aranda

One to look out for in that Granada starting lineup is Gabriel Torje, who is on loan from Italian outfit Udinese. The Romanian will probably play wide on the right today and his teammates will probably look for him to be the outlet. Benfica loanee Nolito is also included and should feature in an advanced midfield role.

ATLETICO XI: Courtois; Juanfran, Godín, Miranda, Filipe; Gabi, Koke, Raul García, Cebolla Rodriguez; Costa, Falcao

That's a rather attacking team from Diego Simeone, who looks like he wants his side to record a comprehensive victory today. As expected Radamel Falcao is named as a striker and he will be partnered by the talented Diego Costa. Meanwhile, both Koke and Gabi will feature in midfield roles, while Chelsea loanee Thibaut Courtois will continue to keep goal.

Staying with Atletico and their loss of form during the second half of the season. As mentioned in the introduction, they looked as though they were going to challenge Barcelona for the title at one stage, but going into this match they trail the Catalan outfit by a rather large 16 points.

So, what's the reasoning behind that? Well, Falcao's goals of dried up, but he was finding the net at such a rate he was always going to level out at some point. What will disappoint Simeone is the lack of help that the Colombian has received in the goalscoring department. In Atletico's last 15 games, only Diego Costa, Falcao and Cristian Rodriguez have found the net - hence the slip.

Talking of Simeone, here is what he has had to say about this fixture during a recent press conference: "If we move away from the most important thing, which is to win on Sunday, it will not be good either for the club or for the players or for the fans.

"We have to prepare and play the way we’ve been doing all year. We have to win on Sunday because it is an important match for our future."

Meanwhile, his opposite number Lucas Alcaraz has admitted that the visitors are low in confidence at this present moment in time: "The results have not been good for me or for the players themselves. The other day was not good either in terms of the performance or the result. We have to compete and be close to winning games to restore confidence," he told reporters.

Right then, the players are in the tunnel and they shall be with us shortly. The sun was out for Rayo Vallecano's match earlier and it continues to shine in the Spanish capital. It's really good weather to play football in.

GAME ON! Hosting Atletico, kicking from left to right, get this La Liga encounter off and running.

Well that didn't take too long, did it? It's a gift for Atletico as Roberto comes racing off his line in the Granada goal. He gets nowhere near the ball though and Diego Costa gets up above his marker to nod the ball into an unguarded net. That the Brazilian's seventh goal in La Liga this season. It could be a long afternoon for the away side.

SAVE! Almost another shocker for Roberto as he dawdles over a clearance, which is eventually blocked by a busy Rodriguez. The ball spins up in the air, which Falcao meets with a powerful header. Thankfully for Granada and Roberto, he gets back on his line to hold the Colombian's effort at the second attempt.

It's all Atletico at the moment. A neat passing move eventually works its way to Koke 30 yards from goal. The distance is against him but he strikes the ball nonetheless. It flashes a couple yards wide of the target, but it seems as though the home side have identified Granada keeper Robert as a weakness. They have a shoot on sight policy.

DISALLOWED GOAL! Raul Garcia thinks that he has put Atletico two goals to the good, but his celebrations are cut short by the linesman's flag. It's a neat finish from the midfielder from inside the area, but replays show that he was a good yard beyond the last Granada defender.

I don't actually think that Courtois in the Atletico goal has touched the ball yet. Granada certainly haven't forced a save from the big Belgian. It's been all one way traffic and in truth I can't see that changing.

Wow, Falcao almost found the net, but it was his own goal that he nearly buried the ball in! He met a dangerous free kick from the left, but seemed to lose his whereabouts. As a result, his headed clearance landed on the roof of the Atletico net with a wrong-footed Courtois little more than a spectator.

Football is great, isn't it?! 90 seconds ago Falcao almost stuck the ball in his own net and now he is celebrating putting Atletico in front. It's a quick breakaway from the home side, which ends when Costa sends in a square pass for the leading goalscorer, who was never ever going to miss from six yards out. We may have only played 30 minutes, but this match looks to be over.

BOOKING! This yellow card really has been coming. Having got away with two fouls on Costa, Granada defender Allan Nyom is finally pulled up after he hacks down Falcao from behind. He tries to dispute the decision, but he really doesn't have a leg to stand on.

CHANCE! A big opportunity for Granada goes a begging. It's Torje who is the creator with a fantastic lofted pass over the top of the Atletico defence. That leaves Carlos Aranda with the chance to head home, but he gets it all wrong and sends his effort from close range well wide of the target. That's the stuff of nightmares and Granada really cannot afford for those chances to be wasted.

Granada really are not holding back in the challenges. Luckily for them, the referee has been lenient so far - which is unlike match officials in Spain it has to be said. If they keep flying into tackles like this, they will do well to end the match with 11 players on the pitch.

We've got one minute of stoppage time at the end of the first half.

Well, from the first whistle Atletico were on top of their game and deservedly lead 2-0. In all honesty, had they scored one or two more Granada couldn't have argued. Having struggled to find the net since the turn of the year, Simeone will no doubt be keen for his side to add a few more after the restart.

On the other hand, Granada have looked nervy and unwilling to commit too many players forward. They've had one glorious chance, but that was wasted by Aranda, who showed with his finish why he has scored just three times this season. When you're up against it like the away team are, those opportunities have to be converted into goals.

Should Atletico hold on to claim the victory - which if they don't will be a disaster - then they will have drawn themselves level with rivals Real Madrid in second place on 65 points. Of course, Real can open up a three-point lead again when they play at 8pm against Athletic Bilbao - a game that Sports Mole will have covered with live text updates.

Here we go then. Struggling Granada have made a change as the second half gets underway. The yellow carded Nyom has been replaced before he gets sent off by Juanma Ortiz at right-back. We are back off and running.

Falcao and Atletico are back with a bang. A free kick from wide on the left by Koke screams 'score me' and the Colombian frontman duly obliges with an outstretched leg that diverts the ball beyond the reach of Roberto. That's an early goal at the start of both halves which has simply buried the away side's chances.

A quick statistic from Opta on Twitter: "Radamel Falcao has scored 33 goals from just 33 league games for Atletico at the Vicente Calderon. Wild."

BOOKING! Another Granada players goes into the book for a tug on Rodriguez's shirt. Yacine Brahimi is the culprit and it so needless because the Atletico attacker was on the halfway line and not really going anywhere.

BOOKING! Not only are the away side losing this match, they are now also losing their discipline. The latest to see yellow is Odion Ighalo for dissent. He had no reason to get involved with the referee either because it wasn't even his foul that he was contesting.

OFF THE POST! So close for Raul Garcia and Atletico to a fourth goal. A cross from the left finds the midfielder, whose goalbound shot is parried by Roberto. Garcia is quickest to the rebound, but from a narrow angle he can only strike the base of the upright. An escape for the visitors.

It's a deserved goal for Garcia, who has had a goal disallowed and struck the post before he eventually found the net. It's another whipped cross by Koke, which Garcia meets on the bounce to send into the roof of the net from six yards out. This really could be a cricket score come the final whistle.

SUBSTITUTIONS: Changes for both sides as Atletico goalscorer Costa is given a breather and Adrian comes on in his place. Meanwhile, the booked Ighalo is hooked for the visitors and is replaced by Argentine midfielder Diego Buonanotte.

It's that easy for Atletico that even their full-backs are getting in on the act. Substitute Adrian is the creator, holding on to possession before threading through a precise pass to Filipe Luis inside the area. As Roberto goes to ground, the defender lifts the ball over the keeper and into the net for his first goal of the season. Far too easy.

SUBSTITUTIONS: The impressive Garcia is given a well-earned rest following a tireless performance in the midfield. He is replaced by Oliver Torres, while goalscorer Filipe is also taken off in favour of former Liverpool defender Emiliano Insua. That's all of Atletico's changes done.

CHANCE! Well that just about sums up Granada's performance today. Substitute Buonanotte dances his way into the Atletico area with some neat footwork, but when he is presented with just Courtois to beat from six yards out, his shot is well wide of the target. He hangs his head and so he should!

Another stat on Twitter from Opta regarding the substituted Garcia: "Raul Garcia has scored five goals in La Liga this season, his best record in a campaign for Atletico Madrid. Confidence."

We've got a bit of a break in play as Roberto hits the deck following a collision with Falcao. The keeper is holding his face, although replays show that he was not touched at all! Perhaps he is feeling a little bit embarrassed by his performance today!

Where have this Atletico been in 2013? Okay, Granada have been poor, but they've been made to look that way by Atletico. With four minutes left to play they are stroking the ball around the pitch with ease. Don't bet against them adding one more before the final whistle goes.

We will have two minutes of stoppage time at the end of the second half.

So, that is a resounding win that draws Atletico level on points with rivals Real Madrid. They probably haven't played that well since the turn of the year.

That's all we have time for from the Vicente Calderon. Thanks for joining us this evening and until next time, goodbye.