Atlético and Sevilla close 2023 with different ambitions and obligations
Griezmann seeks to surpass Aragonés against a rival who has known how to react with the arrival of Quique Sánchez Flores
MADRID, 22 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Atlético de Madrid and Sevilla will close this Saturday at the Cívitas Metropolitano (4:15 p.m.) to 2023 football in Spain, with the postponed September duel of LaLiga EA Sports 2023-2024 and that both face with different ambitions and obligations.
The Colchonero team and the Sevilla team were unable to play this match, initially scheduled for September 3, due to the warning due to adverse weather conditions. Then, the visitor was in a similar situation after a bad start with three consecutive defeats, while the local team was closer to a head from which it does not want to give up after two consecutive setbacks.
Diego Pablo Simeone's team arrives at the clash after falling behind in the fight for the title. The defeat at San Mamés (2-0), where they were not very good, and the draw at the Cívitas Metropolitano against Getafe (3-3), which put an end to their great streak at home and in which they gave up after going 3-1 in the 87th minute, they have left them ten points behind Real Madrid and Girona before catching up.
Furthermore, Athletic Club has 'hunted' them in points in the fight for fourth place, so they need to win both to remain hooked on the fight for the title before starting on the 25th visiting Montilivi and not to jeopardize the which he considers his primary objective of qualifying for the Champions League.
The outlook is not better at the qualifying level for Sevilla, a former rival for the Champions League places, but which right now has a greater concern, which is to close 2023 with more income over the danger of relegation, which is only three away. points despite arriving with a reinforced spirit after their victory (0-3) against a direct rival like Granada and the debut of their third coach, Quique Sánchez Flores who always receives the affection of the Colchonera fans.
In this way, with the 'pressure' of returning to the path of victory and of maintaining, at the very least, his undefeated status in his fiefdom, where he has not lost since he did so against FC Barcelona on January 8, the Diego Pablo Simeone's team will try to impose its need on that of its rival, in a duel that always tends to be intense.
The Argentine coach will have to mainly tweak his defense due to the suspensions of Stefan Savic and Mario Hermoso, although the good news is that he can count on José María Giménez. The Turkish Caglar Soyüncü and César Azpilicueta would fight for the remaining position in a defense where Nahuel Molina could return to the right lane.
From there, the other change with respect to the last eleven against Getafe would be the return of Álvaro Morata as '9' to accompany Antoine Griezmann who is looking for a new goal that will allow him to break the tie with the myth Luis Aragonés as the team's all-time top scorer. red and white set.
Meanwhile, Quique Sánchez Flores will have to deal again with a full infirmary to try to win in a difficult field for the Nervionenses – who have only won once in their last 15 visits to the colchoneros – and in exchange he only recovers the Croatian midfielder Ivan Rakitic , who missed the game at Nuevo Los Cármenes due to suspension.
Djibril Sow, Loïc Badé and Marcos Acuña have started training outside the group, but they are still not 100% ready to play and will miss the match, as will the injured Örjan Nyland, Joan Jordán, Dodi Lukebakio, Mariano Díaz, Tanguy Nianzou , Jesús Navas, Érik Lamela and Fernando Reges.
DATASHEET.
–EQUIPMENT.
ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak; Molina, Giménez, Witsel, Azpilicueta, Lino; Koke, Riquelme, De Paul; Griezmann and Morata.
SEVILLE: Dmitrovic; Johnlu, Gudelj, Ramos, Kike Halls, Peters; Soumare, Rakitic, Oliver Torres; Suso and Ocampos.
–REFEREE: Soto Grado (C.Riojano).
–STADIUM: Cívitas Metropolitano.