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Often a clash between two teams with European ambitions down the La Liga (LL) years, Atlético Madrid host a Sevilla side embroiled in a relegation battle. The Atléti machine appears to be whirring again, displayed by a seven-game unbeaten league run (W4, D3) bookended by a fiery 1-1 draw with city rivals Real Madrid, as manager Diego Simeone takes aim at securing European football amidst reports suggesting this might be his final season at the helm.
A whopping 17-point gap to the summit means it’s now extremely unlikely that there will be a fairytale ending if that was the case, but securing consecutive LL home wins for the first time this season will at least see them strengthen their position within the top four. The Cívitas Metropolitano isn’t currently the stronghold it once was however, with Atlético’s five wins from their opening 11 home league outings (D3, L3) their lowest such tally at this stage since 2009/10.
Simeone might sense an opportunity to improve that record against a Sevilla side fighting for their top-flight lives, though he will be acutely aware the Andalusians have won two of the previous four meetings (D1, L1). A 3-2 loss to Osasuna last time out prompted manager Jorge Sampaoli to admit the defeat was «an uphill battle the whole way» as it left Sevilla dangling just two points above the drop zone ahead of the round.
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A trip to Atlético seemingly represents an even steeper slope, with Sevilla failing to win an away league H2H in their last 13 attempts (D7, L6). But with this trip immediately followed up by three LL contests against sides also in the relegation mire, Sampaoli will hope to see an inspirational performance in the Spanish capital where they’re winless (D3, L2) in their last five league visits since beating Getafe in 2021.
Players to watch: Atlético’s Antoine Griezmann has three goal contributions from his last three LL home outings (G2, A1) and 13 goal contributions from 21 league games against Sevilla (G7, A6). Watch out for all-action Sevilla forward Youssef En Nesyri too as he’s racked up three goals and two yellow cards across his last five competitive outings.
Hot stat: Sevilla have failed to win three of the last four LL away games in which they scored the opener (D2, L1).