Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was happy to overcome Rayo Vallecano.
Atletico kept their Primera Division title bid going with another 1-0 win but they were made to work hard for it by a stubborn Rayo side battling for their lives at the other end of the table.
After seeing city rivals Real Madrid go top earlier in the day with a 1-0 win at Real Sociedad, Diego Simeone's team responded to temporarily go back to the summit themselves - before Barcelona's victory at Real Betis later on - thanks to a second-half goal from substitute Antoine Griezmann.
Simeone said: "In general we went for fresh players, and as time went on put in those we thought were necessary.
"When the games are coming all in a row, when it is not easy to keep your focus, it is very important to win, we did that, and we are very happy.
"It was tough at the start, not because we had many players who are not regulars, but because we lacked the necessary intensity. Rayo were playing for a lot, controlled the game, and had their chances close to our area.
"The game went as we had imagined, and we have taken an important victory in at a time when the points count for much more than at any other stage of the season."