Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Sevilla - prediction, team news, lineups

Diego Simeone's side will enter the match off the back of a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid in the Madrid derby, while Sevilla suffered a 3-2 home defeat to Osasuna last time out.

Match preview

Atletico were on the verge of securing a huge victory away to Real Madrid last weekend, with Jose Gimenez sending the Red and Whites ahead in the 78th minute of the contest at Bernabeu, but Alvaro Rodriguez came off the bench to score a leveller for the reigning champions in what proved to be a 1-1 draw.

Simeone's team are now unbeaten in their last seven league matches, which has left them in fourth position in the table, just one point behind third-placed Real Sociedad, but they are only two points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis, with the race for the Champions League spots intensifying at this stage of the season.

Atletico have no European football for the rest of the campaign, while they have also been knocked out of the Copa del Rey, so their only focus is on securing a top-four position in La Liga, which should put them at an advantage.

The capital giants have dropped points in six of their 11 home league games this term, though, and there is no getting away from the fact that it has been a frustrating campaign for the club.

Atletico recorded a 2-0 victory over Sevilla in the reverse match earlier this season, but the points were shared in a 1-1 draw when the two teams locked horns at Wanda Metropolitano last term.

Sevilla, meanwhile, managed to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Europa League on February 23 despite suffering a 2-0 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the second leg of their playoff encounter.

Jorge Sampaoli's side will take on Fenerbahce in the next round of the competition, and they will almost certainly have to win the Europa League in order to qualify for next season's Champions League.

Indeed, a hugely disappointing domestic campaign has left them down in 14th position in the table, boasting only 25 points from their 23 matches.

Sevilla are just two points clear of the relegation zone and some 17 points behind fourth-placed Atletico, so they are looking down the division rather than up at this stage of the campaign.

Sampaoli's side will enter this match off the back of a 3-2 home defeat to Osasuna last weekend, with Abde Ezzalzouli scoring the winner for the visitors in the 85th minute of the contest.

Sevilla have finished fourth in each of their last three La Liga campaigns, while they have not placed lower than ninth since a 10th-place finish 20 years ago.

Atletico Madrid La Liga form:

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D

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D

Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):

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Sevilla La Liga form:

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Sevilla form (all competitions):

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L

Team News

Angel Correa was handed a straight red in the Madrid derby last weekend, meaning that the Argentina international will be suspended for Atletico on Saturday night.

Nahuel Molina is also banned due to the booking that he picked up in the same match, while Reinildo saw his season end with the serious knee injury that he suffered against the champions.

Sergio Reguilon and Rodrigo De Paul are also on the sidelines through injury, but there is a chance that Geoffrey Kondogbia could be back in the squad for the Red and Whites.

The team's defensive absentees could mean that Matt Doherty makes his debut for the club as a starter, while Gimenez and Alvaro Morata may return to the first XI.

As for Sevilla, Fernando is suspended due to the red card that he picked up against Osasuna last time out.

Meanwhile, Loic Bade, Karim Rekik, Papu Gomez, Marcao and Jesus Manuel Corona remain on the sidelines for the visitors due to injury problems.

Alex Telles and Marcos Acuna could both be back in the starting side for this match, with Bryan Gil potentially dropping down to the bench for the contest on Saturday night.

Youssef En-Nesyri has scored 11 times in all competitions during the 2022-23 campaign, and the Morocco international is again set to lead the line for Sampaoli's side.

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Oblak; Doherty, Gimenez, Savic, Hermoso; Llorente, Koke, Barrios, Carrasco; Griezmann, Morata

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Bounou; Nianzou, Gudelj, Telles; Navas, Rakitic, Gueye, Acuna; Lamela, En-Nesyri, Torres

We say: Atletico Madrid 1-0 Sevilla

Sevilla are clearly a lot better than they have shown for much of the season, but this is a very difficult match for Sampaoli's side. Atletico have not been in top form at Wanda Metropolitano in 2022-23, but the Red and Whites impressed at Bernabeu last weekend, and we are expecting them to secure all three points here.

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