Atlético plays the Champions League in the face of Sevilla's need

Atlético plays the Champions League in the face of Sevilla's need

Simeone's men are looking to extend their recent regularity to defend Europe, while the people from Seville watch the relegation closely again

   MADRID, 3 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Atlético de Madrid hosts Sevilla this Saturday (9:00 p.m.) on matchday 24 of LaLiga Santander, a duel in which the colchoneros are obliged to defend their place in the Champions League as a priority objective, with the opportunity to extend their regularity and solidity, while a Sevilla that is going through another pothole needs oxygen, still without detaching itself from the relegation places.

Simeone's men reinforced their solidity and confidence with the last draw (1-1) in the Santiago Bernabéu derby. A duel in which they looked like winners, but a goal from the young Álvaro Rodríguez prevented them from winning at the white fief for the first time since 2016. However, the point allowed them to extend their good dynamics in the League, a championship in which they have not lost since the beginning January (against Barça, 0-1).

By directing the match against Real Madrid, the Argentine coach became the coach with the most appearances (425) in the First Division in charge of the same club, surpassing Luis Aragonés. However, his continuity next season is up in the air, after a year in which he marches 17 points behind the leader, with virtually no options for the title, out of the Cup in the quarterfinals and was eliminated out of Europe in the phase of Champions League groups.

A fateful year in sports that does a lot of damage to Simeone's project at Atleti, which could be living its last months. But the team and the coaching staff remain committed to defending with all the priority objective of the entity: to achieve the Champions League place. And that happens by beating a crestfallen Sevilla this Saturday, more concerned about relegation than looking up. A win would allow the rojiblancos to string together two league wins at home for the first time this season.

The rojiblancos, who have gone seven games without losing, are fourth with 42 points, with Betis only two behind. This Saturday they have another opportunity to improve their performance in the Metropolitan, far from being that impregnable fiefdom of other times. And it is that in these first 11 home games in the League they have added the fewest number of victories (5) since the 2009-2010 season.

The colchoneros will receive Sevilla with the casualties of Nahuel Molina and Ángel Correa due to suspension, in addition to the injured Sergio Reguilón, Rodrigo De Paul and Reinildo. Simeone recovers Geoffrey Kondogbia, although with few options to start. Thus, Matt Doherty and Marcos Llorente will compete for the right side, in a defense with Yannick Carrasco on the left and Mario Hermoso, José María Giménez and Stefan Savic as center backs.

After the tests and adjustments during the week, the coach would bet on a toned Koke, the young Pablo Barrios and the quality of Thomas Lemar in the middle, while Memphis Depay and Antoine Griezmann, with only two goals in the last four and a half months , would be the chosen ones to complete the attack. This would leave Álvaro Morata on the bench, who has only started three of Atlético's last seven unbeaten games.

Jorge Sampaoli's team travels to the Metropolitan after the defeat at home against Osasuna (2-3), a defeat that has stung in Nervión, since they saw a great opportunity to approach European positions vanish. The sadness with those from Pamplona brings them back to the fight for permanence, in what seems to be an endless loop that begins to undermine the morale of the squad and fans.

The Sevillistas are plunged into despair and anxiety, used to fighting at the top of the League and now forced to suffer to get points and continue building their climb from the depths. "All this is transferred to the field and makes us vulnerable. If we do not respect plans and forms, we are anarchic and lose our capacity. We must get out of despair and discomfort," Sampaoli said in the preview.

Sevilla have not beaten Atleti as a visitor since September 2008 (0-1 with a goal from Luis Fabiano), with a balance of seven draws and six defeats in their last thirteen visits. In addition, the match at the Metropolitano marks the beginning of tough weeks, with the Europa League round of 16 tie against Turkish Fenerbahce, and the league matches against Almería, Getafe and Cádiz, direct rivals for permanence.

Sevilla is out of Fernando, who will serve the first of his four suspension games, and Loic Badé, Marcao, Papu Gómez and Karim Rekik, due to injury. This will force Sampaoli to modify his 'eleven' in search of the right formula, which points to the return of Alex Telles to the center of defense, with Marcos Acuña on the left after his last substitution. While Pape Gueye and Óliver Torres seem fixed in the middle, with Suso, Bryan Gil, and Youssef En-Nesyri ahead.

ATHLETIC MADRID: Oblak; Llorente, Savic, Giménez, Hermoso, Carrasco; Koke, Barrios, Lemar; Depay and Griezmann.

SEVILLE: Bond; Navas, Nianzou, Gudelj, Telles, Coin; Oliver Towers, Gueye; Suso, Bryan Gil and En-Nesyri.

--REFEREE: Cuadra Fernández (C. Balearic Islands).

--STADIUM: Cívitas Metropolitano.

--TIME: 9:00 p.m./Movistar LaLiga.