Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla Preview: Team News & Prediction
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Atletico Madrid survived a scare against lower league opposition in midweek as Spain’s most Jekyll and Hyde side try to continue their good run of form by welcoming a limited Sevilla side to the capital city this weekend.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 8th December, 2024: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
Atletico Madrid Preview: Atleti’s form
Diego Simeone, the longest serving manager in La Liga, has been coming under increasing pressure this season but Atletico Madrid managed to extend their good run of form by dramatically coming from behind late on to defeat fourth-tier Cacareno in the second round of the Copa del Rey in midweek.
In that game, Los Rojiblancos were 1-0 down until as late as the 83rd minute before Clement Lenglet’s equaliser before two goals, an own goal and one from Julian Alvarez, stole victory in second-half stoppage-time after Cacareno had been reduced to ten men. Atletico have now enjoyed eight successive victories across all competitions.
Sevilla Preview: Content in mid-table
Former Las Palmas boss Garcia Pimienta is hoping to be the difference this season after back-to-back seasons in which Sevilla have required three permanent managers to eventually push themselves away from the bottom three and the relegation places. The Andalusians have a genuinely average squad but they sit firmly in the middle-of-the-table ahead of this weekend.
The visitors come into this one on the back of a comfortable 3-1 defeat of Olot in the second round of the Copa del Rey the other day thanks to goals from Gonzalo Montiel, Juanlu Sanchez and Kelechi Iheanacho. They have managed just one win in their last four matches in Serie A as Garcia Pimienta deals with the limited resources at his disposal.
Atletico Madrid Team News: Rotation is the key
Atletico Madrid have heavily rotated in the last few weeks during their good run of form and that appears a useful way for Diego Simeone to avoid the usual stagnation and frustration.
He is still dealing with a couple of defensive injury issues as summer signing Robin Le Normand remains a doubt due to concussion with Nahuel Molina also a doubt, too.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Jose Maria Gimenez, Lenglet, Javi Galan; Giuliano Simeone, De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Julian Alvarez
Unavailable: Lemar (Injured)
Questionable: Le Normand (Concussion), Nahuel Molina (Injured)
Sevilla Team News: No fresh issues
Sevilla have a limited and fairly narrow squad so could do without many issues and they don’t have many issues for this weekend with Tanguy Nianzou the only definite absentee.
Norway international goalkeeper Orjan Nyland is technically now a ‘doubt’ but still expected to be sidelined alongside emerging attacker Chidera Ejuke this weekend.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Alvaro Fernandez; Jose Angel Carmona, Bade, Kike Salas, Adria Pedrosa; Sow, Gudelj, Lokonga; Lukebakio, Isaac Romero, Gatito Fernandez
Unavailable: Nianzou (Injured)
Questionable: Nyland (Injured), Ejuke (Injured)
Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla Prediction
Atletico Madrid’s three late goals in midweek mean that they have now scored 14 goals in their last three matches across all competitions after hammerings of both Sparta Prague and Real Valladolid away from home. Atleti are the fourth top scorers in La Liga behind the Clasico giants Barcelona and Real Madrid as well as Villarreal. They now face a Sevilla side that play a passing style of football but generally lack enough quality to really consistently hurt teams. Atletico, with home advantage, are firm favourites for this one.
Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla Tip: Atletico Madrid to win
