Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid will look to make it five wins in a row in the league when they host 12th-placed Sevilla at the Metropolitano on Sunday.
Sevilla are unbeaten in their last two outings, and they will look to build on it when they hit the road to square up against Atletico Madrid, who are one of the title contenders at this point, at the Metropolitano on Sunday night.
The home team are third with 32 points in their 15 La Liga outings thanks to nine wins, five draws and a defeat. The Colchoneros are five points behind league leaders Barcelona but have a game in hand.
Simeone’s team will look to ensure they do not drop points and maintain the pressure on Real Madrid and the Blaugrana. Los Rojiblancos are on an eight-match winning streak across competitions, and they will be eager to add to it.
The visitors are 12th with 19 points in their 15 outings thanks to five wins, four draws and a defeat. They have been inconsistent for most parts and will be eager to build some momentum with a win over one of the giants of La Liga.
Having won two out of their last three outings, Sevilla will be confident about their chances, but it won’t be easy for them to take down Simeone’s team that have been on a roll. While fans will glue their eyes on the screen, ready to see how the match play out and see which teams come out on top, some will also be eager to back their choice with wagers.
Many rely on sites like Kerrybet for insights on the best bookies in the industry. But whether you are placing a wager or just watching the matches, you are probably wondering how the game between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla will go down. With that in mind, The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone remains without the services of Nahuel Molina and Thomas Lemar. Meanwhile, the Argentine manager is expected to make wholesale changes to the XI that started in the Copa del Rey fixture last time out.
Atletico Madrid will line up in a 4-4-2 formation against Sevilla, with Jan Oblak in goal. Marcos Llorente and Javi Galan will be the full-backs. They will protect the wide areas, while Jose Maria Gimenez and Clement Lenglet will feature in the heart of the defence.
As for the midfield unit, Giuliano Simeone and Conor Gallagher will feature on the flanks in the middle of the park, while Rodrigo De Paul and Pablo Barrios will feature in the more central roles. They will not only protect the backline but also provide the front two with opportunities to make a difference. In attack, Antoine Griezmann will partner Julian Alvarez in the final third of the pitch.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Gimenez, Lenglet, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Alvarez
Sevilla
Tanguy Nianzou and Chidera Ejuke are both unavailable for the visitors, but the good news is there are no fresh injury concerns for them. Garcia Pimienta will stick to the 4-3-3 formation.
Alvaro Fernandez should feature in between the sticks, with Jose Angel Carmona, Adria Pedrosa, Loic Bade, and Kike Salas in front of him. Carmona and Pedrosa will be the full-backs, with Bade and Salas in the heart of it.
Nemanja Gudelj will feature in the centre of the park alongside Djibril Sow and Albert Sambi Lokonga. The trio will look to ensure that the team from Madrid do not end up dominating the proceedings. Dodi Lukebakio and Peque Fernandez will provide the much-needed width to their attacks, while Isaac Romero will lead the line for Sevilla against Atletico Madrid.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): A Fernandez; Carmona, Bade, Salas, Pedrosa; Sow, Gudelj, Lokonga; Lukebakio, Romero, Peque Fernandez
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid have won each of their last eight games across competitions.
- While Sevilla did win the home game against Diego Simeone’s team last season, they lost 1-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano.
- Sevilla have been unbeaten in their last three outings, winning two of those fixtures.
- Los Nervionenses finished 14th last season which was their worst finish since getting relegated back in 2000.
- Atletico Madrid have been unbeaten at home this season.
Player to Watch
Julian Alvarez
The Argentine international has surely picked up the pace after a slow start to life at Atletico Madrid. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner has managed to score 11 goals and also has two assists in his 22 outings, and he will be looking to add to it when he takes the field against Sevilla.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 2-0 Sevilla
Atletico Madrid have been on a roll of late winning each of their last eight games in all competitions, and they will surely make life difficult for Sevilla who have been inconsistent for the majority of the season.
While the visitors have been unbeaten in their last three outings, they might be able to keep that record intact. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-0 win for Diego Simeone and his charges this weekend.
