The Frenchman came off the bench and scored within 60 seconds to send Atleti above Real Madrid
For the second week running, they'd run onto the field knowing Real Madrid had gone above them and top of La Liga.
For the second week running, Atletico Madrid snuck a 1-0 to jump right back past them.
For a second week running, Barcelona could go and do just the same in tonight's late kick-off. But for now Atletico Madrid sit atop La Liga after Antoine Griezmann's rasping drive settled some nerves.
After Gareth Bale, Real Madrid's last superstar standing, had netted a late winner for them in San Sebastian, Atleti's superstar emerged from the bench to do the same.
On the back of a stale first half in which a much-changed Atleti struggled to create clear chances against Rayo Vallecano, Griezmann was thrown on to make a difference and he did so inside 60 seconds.
The real superstar at Atletico Madrid is, of course, Diego Simeone, but with the Argentine banned from the touchline it was up to Germán Burgos, his assistant, to give Griezmann the nod.
He and Fernando Torres replaced the disappointing duo of Luciano Vietto and Oliver Torres on 55 minutes and the impact was instant as Griezmann's low, left-footed drive snuck in at the near post with virtually his first touch.
Rayo threw everything they had at Atleti from then onwards in the vague hope of an equaliser that might boost their survival chances.
But having seen Bayern held scoreless here on Tuesday night the efforts were more of aspiration than expectation.
For Simeone, watching on from the directors' box, it was the win he needed from a rotated side and, crucially, no more injuries.
Atleti now have two league games remaining. Even if they win both then they still have to hope.
Atleti might have two Champions League games remaining, and if they win both then the resulting celebrations won't remember ground-out results like today. Even if they were just as important.
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