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Atletico Madrid is set to strive for consecutive victories in La Liga as they continue their 2023-24 campaign by hosting Sevilla, who are currently struggling for form. This match is scheduled for Sunday evening.
Diego Simeone's squad is entering the game on the back of a remarkable 7-0 triumph over Rayo Vallecano, while Sevilla's season has been marked by a poor start, suffering a 2-1 home defeat to Girona.
Atletico's recent historic 7-0 away win against Rayo Vallecano marked a major achievement for the team in Spain's top flight. Key contributors to this victory included Antoine Griezmann, Memphis Depay, Nahuel Molina, Angel Correa, and Marcos Llorente, with Alvaro Morata adding a second-half brace. This result propelled Atletico to seven points from their first three games, placing them second in the current league standings.
At the outset of the season, Atletico secured a 3-1 win over Granada but were held to a goalless draw by Real Betis. Now, they aim to secure back-to-back wins prior to the international break.
In the previous season, Simeone's team defeated Sevilla in both league matches, notably with a commanding 6-1 win at home, in addition to a 2-0 victory at Estadio Ramon in the first half of the campaign.
Despite finishing third in La Liga last season, Atletico's improved second-half performance has raised hopes for a title challenge in the current season.
In contrast, Sevilla currently languish at the bottom of the league table, suffering defeats in their first three games against Valencia, Alaves, and Girona, despite a valiant effort against Manchester City in the UEFA Super Cup.
While Sevilla managed to secure a place in the 2023-24 Champions League group stage through their Europa League victory, financial constraints have made for a challenging summer. The pressure on their manager has intensified despite his heroics in the Europa League.
Although it seems unlikely that Sevilla, a club with a rich history, would face relegation, their poor start to the season cannot be denied.
As for the upcoming match, Atletico will likely miss Saul Niguez due to injury, with several other key players like Memphis, Koke, Jose Gimenez, and Reinildo sidelined. Yannick Carrasco and Joao Felix are in advanced transfer negotiations and are expected to have moved on by the time of the game.
For the home team, Samuel Lino will likely replace Carrasco, and Morata will fill in for the injured Memphis, partnering with Griezmann in the attack. In the midfield, Llorente is expected to feature due to Saul's probable absence.
On the other hand, Sevilla has numerous players sidelined, including Jesus Navas, Fernando, Marcos Acuna, Marcao, Tanguy Nianzou, and Alfonso Pastor. Despite their recent defeat to Girona, most of the lineup from that match is expected to remain unchanged, with Youssef En-Nesyri leading the attack. The manager may consider options like Erik Lamela and Joan Jordan for potential alterations.
In summary, Sevilla faces a daunting task as they take on Atletico Madrid in the fourth matchday of La Liga. The visitors have had a nightmarish start to the season and hope to turn things around, while the home team aims to build on their recent impressive form.
