After holding the champions to a draw at the Santiago Bernabeu last weekend, Atletico will look to keep their unbeaten run going when they host Sevilla at the Civitas Metropolitan Stadium on Saturday at 20:00 GMT.
Atletico, who are just two points ahead of Real Betis, will need a win to guarantee to stay in the top four this weekend. Diego Simeone will be focused on extending the team’s good form this weekend.
Hovering on just two points above the relegation zone, Sevilla will be looking to get the three points they need to bolster their survival fight this season.
Key Highlights
Atletico’s Unbeaten Run
Diego Simeone’s men have steadied the ship and had a good run into the league to get into the top four in La Liga. The remit now is to keep this season in the second half of the season, especially the run-in.
Current form, which includes an unbeaten run in the last five La Liga outings, including three wins and two draws, demonstrates the upturn in form from the inconsistency earlier in the season.
This run has been built on defensive solidity; Atletico have kept four clean sheets in their last five assignments in the league. Simeone will be counting on this discipline and resolve to deliver a win over Sevilla on Saturday.
Sevilla’s Relegation Fight?
With just two wins in the last five matches, including two defeats and a draw, Sevilla has fallen closer to the bottom three than the European places.
Jorge Sampaoli’s revival job has not gone to plan. The team’s inconsistency has continued, thus meaning that it is dropping points more than the gaffer would want.
The focus this weekend will be steadying the ship and ensuring that the team is tight, disciplined, and robust in the middle of the pack. They will also look to be clinical and take the chances they will create against Atletico on Saturday.
Injury Report
Atletico
Diego Simeone will be without Reinildo Mandava; the 29-year-old left-back is recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture. The fullback has been out since February 25, and he is expected to be back fit by September 15, 2023.
Left-back Sergio Reguilon is also a major doubt for the clash with Sevilla on Saturday. The 26-year-old has been nursing a hamstring injury since February 20, 2023. Having missed three matches, the prognosis shows that the earliest he is expected to be fit is March 13, 2023.
Sevilla
Jorge Sampaoli’s selection for the Atletico game will be encumbered by the injury-imposed absences of Marcao (thigh muscle rupture), Papu Gomez (ankle injury), Karim Rekik (Achilles tendon problems), and Loic Bade (thigh muscle rupture).
These enforced absences will impact the gaffer’s choices when choosing the team to face Atletico on Saturday. He will have to choose a balanced, solid, and compact team that will be brave on the ball.
Possible Lineups
Atletico
J. Oblak; J. M. Gimenez; M. Hermoso, S. Savic, N. Molina; Y. Ferreira Carrasco, Saul, Koke, P. Barrios; A. Griezmann, M. Llorente
Sevilla
Bono; T. Nianzou, Fernando, N. Gudelj; J. Navas, I. Rakitic, P. Gueye, B. Gil; E. Lamela, Oliver’ Y. En-Nesyri
Prediction
Atletico will be robust and compact in their approach. They will look to play with quick passing from the back and down the wings. They will create chances through the execution of their tactics and passing.
Sevilla will look to be disciplined in their approach. However, the focus will be on dominating the ball and setting the tempo from midfield. They will press Atletico and seek to create chances in the final third.
Atletico are favored to win the match and take the three points on offer.
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