For the first time in club history, Sevilla has kicked off a La Liga campaign with three consecutive defeats, and the team needs to be at its absolute best on Sunday to avoid another loss as the Andalusians travel to meet Atletico Madrid.
Bookmaker William Hill offers odds at 1.73 for Atletico to pick up all three points with at least two goals scored in the match. The odds are at 9.50 for Sevilla to triumph with at least two goals scored.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: September 2nd, 3:30 P.M. (EST)
Sevilla enjoyed an excellent finish to last season, culminating with another Europa League triumph, and the hopes were clearly high for the 2023-24 campaign but nothing has gone right for the side so far. Los Nervionenses are the only team without a single point through three games in La Liga, and they have already conceded eight goals.
The team had a very good defensive record last season after Jose Luis Mendilibar took charge in March, but the squad appears to have gone back to old habits and is really struggling at the back right now.
Defensive fragilities have appeared at an awful time for Sevilla as the team gears up to face La Liga’s best attack. Atletico produced a nice three-goal performance in its season opener against Granada, and the offense completely exploded Monday night when the team recorded the biggest top-flight away win in club history with a 7-0 thrashing of Rayo Vallecano.
Diego Simeone has always been known as a defensive-minded manager, but he currently seems to have found the perfect balance between the defense and attack, with Atleti also conceding just once so far in three league games.
At home, Los Colchoneros have done particularly well, scoring in 12 consecutive league matches. It’s the team’s best streak in La Liga since a run of 22 games between May 2018 and September 2019. The stretch includes a big 6-1 triumph over Sevilla, and Atletico has failed to win just once during the streak.
Last season’s visit to Metropolitano marks one of many disappointments Sevilla has suffered in Madrid against Atletico. 15 years have passed since the last time the team traveled home with three points. There have been a couple of cup victories since then but none since 2018.
With this being the final matchday before this season’s first international break, another defeat would leave Sevilla in a very uncomfortable situation. Getting at least a point on board would be a good morale booster ahead of a two-week break. It could lead to a pretty negative game plan from Mendilibar’s side as he will be desperate to secure some kind of a result for his team.
