Atletico Madrid 2-0 Sevilla
Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid continue to look down on the other 19 teams after a well-earned victory over Sevilla took them four points clear at the top of La Liga and with two games in hand.
Even though Atleti’s game against Athletic Bilbao was snowed off at the weekend, they stayed top of the league as the La Liga 2021 results elsewhere went their way, and tonight’s victory has really put down a marker…Los Rojiblancos are the team to catch.
Sevilla are still in good shape, with a game in hand on the teams around them and can climb up to fourth in the league table if they make that count. But after Angel Correa and Saul Niguez had put the hosts in charge, this result was never in doubt.
Highlights of the game
The visitors came very close to taking the lead on just three minutes when Jules Kounde fired a dangerous ball across the penalty area which Ivan Rakitic met well, but Atleti keeper Jan Oblak made a great save in his top left corner to keep it out.
Youssef En-Nesyri was in devastating form in Sevilla’s win over Real Sociedad last week, scoring a hat-trick, and he could easily have had more. He had a sighter on 14 minutes when Lucas Ocampos teed him up just outside the penalty area, but his shot flew wide.
Angel Correa celebrates with teammates after scoring Atletico’s first goal of the match.
With injuries and suspensions keeping players out, Simeone has used his squad in recent weeks and he was glad to see wing-back Kieran Trippier back in the fold. Especially when the England man passed to Angel Correa in space in the penalty area and the Argentine winger fired past Yassine Bounou into the bottom right corner.
Los Sevillanos fought back, urged on by the influential Suso who passed to Rakitic whose shot was charged down. Then, Bounou made a great save to keep out a shot from Luis Suarez after more good work from Trippier.
Marcos Llorente presented Suarez with another chance, but he shot straight at Bounou in the last action of the first half.
Julen Lopetegui had a job to do at half-time, and he must have said the right things as Sevilla took the game to Atleti at the beginning of the second half.
Kounde put En Nesyri through on the right edge of the penalty area and his shot arrowed towards the top corner but Oblak saved well again. Jesus Navas then found Suso in space, but his shot was charged down.
But Los Rojiblancos did what they do best and soaked up the pressure before striking like a cobra and putting the game beyond reach. Llorente fed Saul and he did the rest, firing low into the corner to make it 2-0, with 15 minutes to play.
Sevilla huffed and puffed, En Nesyri came close and Rakitic hit the post with a header, but you don’t come back from two down to Atleti.
Key statistics
The latest La Liga 2021 betting odds are backing Los Rojiblancos, odds on, to win the title for the first time since 2014 and this was a big result.
Simeone’s team have been in devastating form at the Wanda Metropolitano, winning eight and drawing one, while Sevilla lost their eight-match unbeaten run away from home.
Sevilla had much more possession tonight and won the shot count by 13 to five, but Atleti had four on target to Sevilla’s two.
Los Rojiblancos have conceded just six goals this season, and that is exactly why they are strong favourites to win the league.
What’s next?
Keep it here at SBOTOP for all the latest news, views, previews and the best range of Asian Handicap Betting options, because there’s plenty more action on the horizon.
Spain has a Copa del Rey weekend and then La Liga is back next Tuesday when Lopetegui’s Sevilla have an away trip to play Deportivo Alaves, and two days later Atletico Madrid are away to Eibar on Thursday 21st. Simeone is closing in on the signature of Moussa Dembele from Lyon, to boost his forward line, but the Eibar game may come too early for him.
Before all that we have some exciting action across the other leagues to come, including Liverpool vs Manchester United and Inter Milan vs Juventus on Sunday.
Bring it on!
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The post La Liga: Victory over Sevilla Is Huge for Atletico appeared first on SBOTOP.