Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream & TV Info
In what is an important clash in this season's race for Champions League places, Sevilla welcome Atletico Madrid to the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in La Liga on Sunday.
For the hosts, this meeting with the defending Spanish champions is a must-win encounter if Unai Emery's men harbour hopes of a top-four league finish in 2014-15, with Los Rojiblancos currently sitting five points adrift of fourth-placed Valencia.
But Sevilla will be buoyed by their sterling home record ahead of Sunday's duel with Diego Simeone's side. In 12 games at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium this season, the Andalusians are unbeaten and have recorded nine victories, all while conceding just seven goals.
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Only Real Madrid and Barcelona can match Sevilla's defensive record on their own turf.
However, despite the club's strong run on home soil, Los Rojiblancos have lost three of their last four games in La Liga and four of their last six dating back to late January.
As such, Emery will hope Thursday's 3-2 victory over Borussia Monchengladbach that secured progression into the round of 16 in the Europa League will have somewhat restored Sevilla's confidence after conceding four goals against Real Sociedad at the Anoeta last weekend.
Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, will arrive in Andalusia on Sunday following their 1-0 midweek defeat to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.
Though Simeone's players will be confident of securing three points against an opponent they thrashed, 4-0, earlier in the season, Atleti's record when returning from European duties this season has been disappointing.
In their six matches immediately following Champions League outings, the men from the capital have won just twice, suffering defeats to Villarreal, Valencia and Real Sociedad, and drawing at home with Celta Vigo.
The Spanish champions are also likely to be without Guilherme Siqueira and Saul Niguez, after both sustained injuries during Wednesday's match in Germany. But boosting Atletico will be the availability of Koke, who, per Reuters, will return for Sunday's clash with Sevilla after being sidelined with a hamstring injury since the Madrid derby in early February.
Date: Sunday, Mar. 1
Time: 6 p.m. GMT/1 p.m. ET/7 p.m. local
Venue: Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Sevilla
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Form Lines
| W: 3-2 vs. Borussia Monchengladbach | L: 0-1 vs. Bayer Leverkusen |
| L: 3-4 vs. Real Sociedad | W: 3-0 vs. Almeria |
| W: 1-0 vs. Borussia Monchengladbach | L: 0-2 vs. Celta Vigo |
| W: 3-0 vs. Cordoba | W: 4-0 vs. Real Madrid |
| L: 1-2 vs. Getafe | W: 3-1 vs. Eibar |
| L: 1-2 vs. Real Madrid | L: 2-3 vs. Barcelona |
Predicted Lineups
Players to Watch
Not often does Atletico Madrid's centre-back pairing of Diego Godin and Miranda come up against an all-round centre-forward who can match them for physicality in the way Sevilla's Carlos Bacca can.
Indeed, the Colombian is a unique beast in La Liga—a striker who not only enjoys a strong tussle with his opponents, but who can also score in a multitude of ways.
As such, Bacca's battle with Godin and Miranda will be fascinating on Sunday, given that Emery's primary goalscorer is a threat in the air, relishes running at defenders and is also comfortable dropping back into the midfield to gain possession and establish a connection with his central team-mates.
For Atletico Madrid, Koke's return comes at an important time for Simeone's side.
Without the Spain international, Atleti have looked less fluent in attack and have clearly missed his passing vision and industrious productivity in midfield.
Importantly too, Simeone's men have looked a lesser threat from set pieces—the team's biggest strength—without Koke's outstanding delivery from dead balls.
Returning for the meeting with Sevilla, Simeone's central orchestrator will undoubtedly bolster Los Colchoneros' midfield.
Key Battle
With left-backs Siqueira and Cristian Ansaldi both unlikely to feature on Sunday, Simeone will likely deploy right-back Jesus Gamez on the left side of his back four against Sevilla.
Naturally, the hosts will view Gamez as a possible weakness to exploit, particularly after Simeone's failed experiment when using him at left-back against Barcelona at the Camp Nou in early January.
Should that situation eventuate, expect Sevilla to attack down their right side—Atleti's left—through either Aleix Vidal or Gerard Deulofeu.
Both fleet of foot and comfortable driving at defenders, either of Emery's right-sided options will look to take advantage of Gamez's unfamiliarity with the left-back post and will play a key role for the hosts against the league champions.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Sevilla: 2-1
Draw: 11-5
Atletico Madrid: 29-20
