Atletico Madrid vs. Sevilla: Key Issues That Will Shape La Liga Game

Atletico Madrid will look to continue their unbeaten start to the season when they host Sevilla at the Vicente Calderon in La Liga on Saturday. 

After stuttering to a disappointing 2-2 draw to Celta Vigo last weekend, Diego Simeone's men rebounded with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Almeria on Wednesday. 

Currently two points off the pace being set by Sevilla, Valencia and Barcelona, the defending Spanish champions will be hoping to emerge from a somewhat sluggish start to defeat one of the division's hottest sides.

Across the following slides, we examine five issues that will shape Saturday's game. 

Mario Mandzukic's Injury Status

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Earlier in the week, Tom Conn of Inside Spanish Football reported that Mario Mandzukic could be in line to make a sudden return for Atletico Madrid against Sevilla, after suffering a nasal fracture in the Champions League clash with Olympiakos. 

In the Crotian's absence against Celta Vigo and Almeria, Atleti's attack has been subdued, forced to rely upon goals from the centre-back pairing of Miranda and Diego Godin. 

If Mandzukic, who could wear a protective mask, can return for Saturday's clash, the home side's threat going forward will be dramatically increased, particularly when one considers how deadly the defending champions have been from set pieces so far this season—situations the former Bayern Munich striker thrives in. 

Sevilla's Ability to Deal with Atletico Madrid's Set Pieces

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If you've watched Atletico Madrid in action this season, you'll have noticed the team is at their most dangerous from the set pieces delivered by Koke and Gabi. 

Blessed with powerful headers of the ball in Miranda, Diego Godin, Raul Garcia and Mario Mandzukic to target, Atleti have consistently dominated opposing teams in the air. 

For Sevilla to keep their hot start to the season going at the Vicente Calderon, they must find a way to deal with the home side's devastating dead-ball specialists, while also avoiding fouls in their own half. 

Key to that will be the aerial prowess of centre-backs Nicolas Pareja and Daniel Carrico in the penalty area, but perhaps more important will be whether Sevilla can control the game's tempo in midfield. 

Should the visitors' trio of Vicente Iborra, Grzegorz Krychowiak and Denis Suarez be able to edge the possession battle, Unai Emery's men have the capacity the limit Atletico's forays forward, potentially shielding themselves from a barrage of set pieces. 

Can Atletico Madrid Regain Defensive Identity?

Andres Kudacki/Associated Press

While Atletico Madrid kept a clean sheet at Almeria on Wednesday, the team's two previous clashes with more talented opponents in Olympiakos and Celta Vigo saw Diego Simeone's men concede a total of five goals. 

For a team with a defensive identity, both games were rather uncharacteristic. 

In midfield, captain Gabi hasn't hit his excellence of last season, while both Miranda and Diego Godin have found themselves beaten more regularly this term than last. Guilherme Siqueira and Cristian Ansaldi are also yet to nail down the left-back position. 

For the men from the capital to emerge victorious against Sevilla, last season's almost impenetrable defence must return, particularly given that the attack has been far from fluid so far this season.

Unai Emery's side have also been surprisingly hot in the early weeks of the new campaign, covering the departures of Ivan Rakitic, Alberto Moreno and Federico Fazio rather comfortably amid the excellence of Carlos Bacca and Aleix Vidal in attack. 

Can Sevilla Maintain the Supply Line to Carlos Bacca?

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Key to Sevilla's strong opening to the 2014-15 season has been the form of striker Carlos Bacca, who's notched four league goals already.

An accomplished dribbler, strong shooter and with a natural poacher's instinct in the box, the Colombian has the type of all-round game capable of upsetting Atletico Madrid's robust defence. 

However, the 28-year-old's threat will be determined by how regularly the midfield can get the ball to his feet in between the lines, allowing him to run at Diego Godin and Miranda. 

So far, Sevilla haven't faced an opponent capable of closing down the spaces as effectively as Atletico, meaning Unai Emery's central trio will face a more difficult task in supplying Bacca than they have to this point.

Antoine Griezmann's Capacity to Play 90 Minutes

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In the 2-2 draw at home to Celta Vigo, Antoine Griezmann found the attacking spark that has been expected of him since his arrival from Real Sociedad, running at defenders and making darting runs all around the visitors' penalty area.

And when he was substituted for Raul Garcia in the 68th minute, the home fans weren't shy in voicing their displeasure, given his extremely bright display. 

Yet, it seems that Diego Simeone is protecting the Frenchman somewhat, clearly in the belief he's not ready to play 90 minutes at this stage of the season (he's yet to complete a match in four starts). 

But one feels the 23-year-old is the player capable of igniting Atletico's attack in open play, using his pace and finishing skills to partly compensate for the departure of Diego Costa. 

A clash with one of La Liga's early high-flyers could represent the opportunity to fully unleash Griezmann.