Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla
Sevilla heads to Madrid to take on Atletico on Tuesday night in the La Liga match of the week…weather permitting.
Atleti were scheduled to face Athletic Bilbao at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday, but a winter storm, producing the biggest snowfall in the country’s recent history, resulted in a postponement.
The Basque club’s plane was unable to land in Madrid on Friday night as the international airport was shut down. But Diego Simeone’s team still sits at the top of the league table after Real Madrid were held to a 0-0 draw away to Osasuna.
That means Los Rojiblancos have three games in hand over both Real and Barcelona and this matchup against Sevilla is the first on the horizon. Win this and Atleti will have a useful four-point lead at the top.
Los Sevillanos will pose a serious test for Diego Simeone’s title hopefuls, though. They are in good form themselves and up to sixth place in the table at 30 points, and well within reach of a Champions League place.
Talking Points
A challenge for Simeone’s squad
Los Rojiblancos’ latest La Liga 2021 results see them come into the game on the back of four consecutive league victories and with that extra recovery time, following the postponement of Saturday’s fixture against Bilbao. And that’s no bad thing for Simeone who has one or two selection headaches to deal with.
His squad is being tested to the full and is responding well to hold off the challenge of Real and Barca.
With Diego Costa now released from his contract at the player’s request, and young striker Joao Felix injured, summer signing Luis Suarez has been shouldering much of the workload up front, scoring nine goals. He’s been ably assisted by Marcos Llorente, who is being used in a more advanced position and has contributed six goals.
At the other end of the pitch, right-back and top assister Kieran Trippier is available as his ten-week ban has been suspended, but centre-back Jose Gimenez is doubtful. Los Rojiblancos crashed out of the Copa del Rey last week, losing 1-0 to third tier UE Cornella. Simeone played a lot of fringe players but he will regret fielding first choice centre back Gimenez, who went off with an ankle injury.
The La Liga 2021 betting odds predict a low scoring game with the hosts enjoying a slight edge and, as always, Simeone’s team’s defensive qualities will be essential. Los Rojiblancos have conceded just six goals this season and Stefan Savic has been a key man at the heart of defence, but he needs to keep it clean, picking up five yellow cards already.
En Nesyri has a taste for goals
Sevilla forward Youssef En-Nesyri celebrates after scoring against Real Sociedad during their recent La Liga encounter
Sevilla’s Moroccan striker, Youssef En Nesyri, is brimming with confidence having scored a brilliant hat-trick in his team’s 3-2 victory over Real Sociedad on Saturday.
Brazilian midfielder Fernando, back from suspension, set up En-Nesryi’s first, but centre-back Diego Carlos had a moment of madness, chipping his own keeper to put himself in pole position for ‘own goal of the season’!
Head coach Julen Lopetegui could be excused for hoping Atletico will go on to win La Liga after he was unceremoniously booted out of Real Madrid after a short but disastrous spell there as head coach in 2018. But he won’t be giving Los Rojiblancos any help at all on Tuesday and we’re in for a fascinating clash.
Winger Lucas Ocampos is a man to watch. The 23-year-old Argentine is putting in top quality performances week after week.
History
The head-to-head record tell a story of a terrific battle between these two La Liga big guns and, in the 55 meetings since 1993, Los Sevillanos have a slight edge, winning 19 to Atleti’s 17.
This corresponding fixture, back in March, ended in an entertaining 2-2 draw, Ocampos earning a point for the visitors with a penalty, while the three preceding meetings produced 1-1 stalemates.
Atletico Madrid have been in devastating form at the Wanda Metropolitano this season, winning seven and drawing one, while Sevilla are unbeaten in eight games away from home.
Betting Tip
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Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla | Atletico Madrid to win 1-0 @ 5.20 |
| January 13, 04:30 (GMT+8) |
Los Rojiblancos are marginally odds on at 1.98 with SBOTOP to win the game. Sevilla are at 3.74 and the draw at 3.06, and we predict a low scoring clash with under 2.25 goals at 1.71.
A repeat of the most common result between these two teams in recent times, 1-1, is at 5.60; but I’m backing a Simeone master-class.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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 = €20 (Highly confident) |
= €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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The post La Liga: Leaders Atleti Ready for Sevilla Test appeared first on SBOTOP.