Atlético Madrid continued their stellar home form with a resounding second half display to overcome Sevilla FC 3-0 on Saturday afternoon.
The Estadio Metropolitano was in fine voice from the off in a game
that saw great friends Diego Simeone and Matías Almeyda come up against each other in the dugouts for the first time.
Although the possession swung in favour of the visitors, it felt like Atleti should have gone into half time a goal to the good, but they were unable to convert a number of good chances. The deadlock was broken with a second-half Julián Alvarez penalty after José María Giménez was hacked down in the box.
Thiago Almada then found himself in space to roll in a Giuliano Simeone squared ball to double Atlético’s lead before Antoine Griezmann wrapped up the win to send his side momentarily level on points with FC Barcelona.
Here are Into the Calderón’s player ratings for this one.
Player ratings
Jan Oblak 7: Saved well from a long-range Nemanja Gudelj strike, someone who has history of scoring worldies from distance. Had little else to do in a match which extends his position as the goalkeeper with the third-most clean sheets in LALIGA history — a position he took up last weekend over Iker Casillas.
Marcos Llorente 7: Had a splendid defensive display keeping Rubén Vargas very quiet to the sacrifice of his role going forward. Just when he thought he was going to be set free of his duties, he was shuffled into the right side of a back three, with Nahuel Molina instead given licence to go on.
José María Giménez 7: Won the penalty which Julián converted by putting his life on the line up against Tanguy Nianzou’s mindless challenge. Giménez’s return and the upward spike in clean sheets is no coincidence, although this time his opposition strikers offered him very little in the way of a test.
Dávid Hancko 7: Came in at center-back with Robin Le Normand rested for the first time this season. Strides forwards into areas where he can use the quality from his left foot to produce half chances for the forwards. Solid at the back making a formidable partnership with Giménez.
Matteo Ruggeri 6: A rare start for the Italian who didn’t put a foot wrong. Gave a positive attacking outlet in the first half and stuck to his duties diligently in the second. Hopefully this match can give him confidence to grow under the stern eye of El Cholo.
Giuliano Simeone 8: A certified baller and my player of the match. Doesn’t give up on any ball no matter how far gone it may look and his recovery, run and pass for Almada’s goal is the perfect visual description of him as a player. More end product for Cholito, who must have one proud father to go home to.
Koke 7: Indispensable as he has been all season, grinding out 90 minutes of midfield mastery tonight. Guillem Balagué on LALIGA TV noted: “there always seems to be an extra Atlético Madrid player in the middle.” That extra was our Captain Atleti who appeared to either clone himself or teleport, I couldn’t tell which superpower he used.
Álex Baena 7: For the first 45 minutes, he was the best player on the pitch by lightyears. Played in a deeper central midfield role due to Pablo Barrios’ absence, which suited his quarterback passing style. Somehow, Baena went without an assist in the first half; his quality deliveries from set pieces and from the middle of the park were wasted by his teammates. Was substituted on 73 minutes after a quieter spell in the second half.
Nico González 6: Had three chances fall to him before half-time, the third spurned due to apparent contact from the defender closing him down from behind. If his first touch was better, he’d have given himself a much easier finish. If he had scored one of his chances, he’d be hailed as a hero. If my grandmother had wheels, she would’ve been a bike.
Julián Alvarez 7: Took a backseat while Baena shined in the first period, but started to grow into the match after the break. Converted his penalty well, taking his league tally up to seven goals. Played one incredible reverse pass that got the crowd oohing at 2-0 up before being taken off to rest up for a busy November.
Alexander Sørloth 7: Probably his best game this season even as he was hounded by Sevilla defender Marcão for the entirety. Played his part in the majority of Atleti’s chances and was unlucky not to see a typically fierce shot of his go in — the keeper being equal to it. If I were to play the role of an amateur psychologist, I’d look at his body language at certain points of the match and question if he was happy.
Substitutes
Conor Gallagher 6: A slowing Sevilla side suited the Englishman’s introduction as he scuttled around nicking the ball from all the players in black shirts. Had a snap shot at goal after a silky team move that would have been a stadium-raiser.
Thiago Almada 7: On the scoresheet once more, benefitting again from his compatriot Simeone’s electricity down the right. His sliding recovery on the edge of the box at the other end was equally as impressive. Almada continues to show us why he could be an understated but key figure in this team.
Antoine Griezmann 7: Missed an easy one-on-one on his favoured left foot before scoring a beautifully-taken goal on his right. The Frenchman began the move himself with a sweeping pass over to the flanks before finishing it off in style. The legend of El Principito continues with goal number 201 of his Atleti career.
Giacomo Raspadori n/a: Ran around after the ball like a puppy on a tennis court.
Nahuel Molina n/a: Our World Cup winner <3
