Sevilla vs Atletico: Will home comforts help Sevilla end Atletico's unbeaten start?
Coming into gameweek 9 of the current La Liga season, it’s strange to see defending champions Barcelona ‘languishing’ in fourth. Granted, the Catalan side are only two points off top spot, but given the raft of quality running through the squad, as reinforced in the 4-0 win over Manchester City on Wednesday night, many believe they should strolling to domestic success at a canter. Instead, Atletico Madrid lead the way in Spain’s top tier.
Diego Simeone’s side are one of three teams yet to lose a La Liga game this season, with Real Madrid and Villarreal the other two yet to succumb to defeat in the top division of Spanish football this term. Many now consider Atletico the best team in Spain and for good reason given the ruthlessness with which they have dispatched of opponents this term. A 7-1 thumping of Granada last time out in La Liga reinforced their credentials as they chase their 11th Primera Division title.
Standing between them and a fourth successive league win, however, is Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla. Los Rojiblancos sit one point behind Atletico coming into the top-of-the-table clash at the Pizjuan having netted a late winner at Leganes last weekend to secure their first away league win since May 2015. Sevilla have become accustomed to scoring late on in Spain’s top tier, with Sampaoli’s side netting four of their 16 league goals from the 86th-minute onwards.
The late flurry is of course expected under a team managed by Sampaoli, who expects his sides to continue pressing right until the final whistle. Indeed, this has reaped the rewards. Goals late on against Las Palmas, Alaves and Leganes has yielded seven extra points for Sevilla, with the high intensity approach implemented by the Argentine manager ensuring the Seville outfit are winning possession in the final third 4.3 times per La Liga game this season, the fourth best return in the league.
Sevilla routinely hound and press the opposition, confident they can net a crucial goal before games come to a head. For all of their pressing, however, it’s fair to say that Sevilla are far from the finished article. Sampoali's approach can be perceived as organised chaos, but while Sevilla look like scoring at any moment, they also look culpable of shipping.
They’ve conceded more goals (12) than any other team in the top-6 of Spain’s top tier, while only Granada (7) and Leganes (4) have committed more errors that have led to an opposition shot on goals than Sevilla (3). It’s heaven for the neutrals, hell for Sevilliastas. Up against the regimented Atletico, a contrast of styles clash at the Pizjuan. Simeone’s side have conceded just one goal in their six away competitive games this season and have shipped fewer goals (3) than any other team in La Liga this term.
Furthermore, only Barcelona (26) and Real Madrid (22) have scored more league goals than Atletico this campaign (21). Boasting the league’s joint-top goalscorer in Antoine Griezmann (6 goals), Simeone’s side have the attacking quality to put the Sevilla defence to the sword, though while Seville have the defensive nous to limit the Frenchman's impact, the speed and trickery of Yannick Carrasco will pose the hosts serious trouble out wide.
The Belgian has come into form for Atletico in recent weeks having gained back-to-back WhoScored man of the match awards in wins over Granada and FC Rostov. Over those two games, Carrasco netted four goals and registered two assists and is averaging the third most dribbles per game (2) of all Atletico players. 1.1 key passes per league match is a respectable return and shows that not only is the 23-year-old capable of beating his opponent with his ball, but creating for others, with the Belgium winger boasting an effective end product to his game. Fresh from penning on a new deal at the Calderon, Carrasco will be confident of prolonging his good form.
Conversely, the Atletico backline has to be weary of the attacking threat Samir Nasri carries, with the Frenchman looking back to his best under Sampaoli. Having seen his career stall at Manchester City, Nasri’s loan move presented him with a chance to re-establish himself in Europe’s top five leagues and he isn’t disappointing, netting two goals and registering one assist for his new side, the latter of which came against heated rivals Real Betis, with his form returning a respectable WhoScored rating of 6.99.
Importantly, though, his ball retention qualities means Sevilla are able to apply pressure in the opposition half, which increases their chances of scoring against opponents. Only Steven N’Zonzi (74) is averaging more passes per game of all Sevilla players than Nasri (66.8), while a pass success rate of 90.1% is the second only to Matias Kranevitter (95%) at the club, accentuating statistically WhoScored strengths of ‘passing’ and ‘holding on to the ball’. Furthermore, Nasri’s passing ability minimises the chances of the Sevilla goal being threatened by Atletico and has played a vital role in that Sampaoli’s side averaging the second most possession (59.9%) in La Liga this season.
Sunday’s meeting between the two sides promises to be an entertaining affair at the Pizjuan as two contrasting styles meet. Atletico are familiar of playing teams that dominate and coming away with victory, as Champions League wins over Barcelona and Bayern Munich last season highlight. Meanwhile, this new-look Sevilla side has the potential to blow teams away, but is just as likely to concede as one of the weekend’s more enticing fixtures nears.
Can Atletico continue their unbeaten start to the season at Sevilla on Sunday? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
