Sevilla 2-1 Atletico: Hosts ease relegation fears as Simeone makes rotations

Sevilla picked up a vital three points in LaLiga's relegation battle as they defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

Match Report

Diego Simeone made wholesale changes to his Atleti side ahead of their Champions League quarter-final second leg against Barcelona on Tuesday, knowing their place in LaLiga's top four is all but guaranteed.

Sevilla took the lead after 10 minutes from the penalty spot. Juan Musso got a hand on Akor Adams' spot-kick after Dani Martinez felled Isaac Romero, but the Atleti goalkeeper could only push the ball into the roof of the net.

The visitors managed to get back on level terms as Javier Bonar nodded in from close range after being picked out by Julio Diaz, but Sevilla were back ahead on the stroke of half-time as Nemanja Gudelj powered a header past Musso from Ruben Vargas' cross.

Sevilla went close to adding a third after a nervy start to the second half, but Romero's driven effort struck the base of the left post before a deflected effort from Vargas hit the side-netting.

Although Simeone brought on Ademola Lookman, the Atleti boss left the likes of Julian Alvarez, Antoine Griezmann and Marcos Llorente on the bench as Sevilla almost cruised to a much-needed victory in the end.

Data Debrief: Simeone's boys taught a lesson

The average age of Atleti's starting line-up was 23 years and 289 days, their youngest-ever starting 11 under Simeone in the Spanish top-flight, and it showed.

Sevilla produced 1.78 expected goals from 11 shots to Atleti's 0.76 from 13 attempts, with the visitors struggling to create clear-cut chances in the second half.

However, nothing can be taken away from Sevilla's performance, and Romero's in particular. He recorded the most shots (three), chances created (three), touches in the box (nine) and interceptions (three) in an all-round performance for the home side.

Match Events

1' Highlight from Sevilla vs Atletico

3' Highlight from Sevilla vs Atletico

10' Penalty Goal! Sevilla 1-0 Atletico (Akor Adams)

31' Match Event for Sevilla vs Atletico

35' GOAL! Sevilla 1-1 Atletico (Javier Boñar)

42' Match Event for Sevilla vs Atletico

44' Highlight from Sevilla vs Atletico

47' GOAL! Sevilla 2-1 Atletico (Nemanja Gudelj)

53' Match Event for Sevilla vs Atletico

70' Match Event for Sevilla vs Atletico

75' Match Event for Sevilla vs Atletico

77' Match Event for Sevilla vs Atletico

91' Match Event for Sevilla vs Atletico

92' Highlight from Sevilla vs Atletico

Line-ups

Sevilla XI: Gudelj, Odysseas Vlachodimos, Rubén Vargas, Agoume, Akor Adams, Juanlu Sánchez, Isaac Romero, Kike Salas, Oso, Manu Bueno, Andrés Castrín

Subs: Sanchez, Nyland, Fábio Cardoso, Maupay, Jordan, Januzaj, Sow, Gabriel Suazo, Batista Mendy, Chidera Ejuke, Federico Gattoni, Peque Fernández

Atletico XI: Sørloth, Musso, Álex Baena, Thiago Almada, Marc Pubill, Javier Boñar, Rayane Belaid, Rodrigo Mendoza, Obed Vargas, Julio Díaz, Dani Martinez

Subs: Griezmann, Lenglet, Llorente, Lookman, Molina, Alvarez, Matteo Ruggeri, Giuliano Simeone, Salvi Esquivel, Gerónimo Spina, Jano Monserrate, Javi Morcillo