Top match in Spain: Sevillla hosts Atletico
It is the top match of the 18th matchday in La Liga. The second in the table receives the fourth in the table, Sevilla FC take on champions Atletico Madrid
The Spanish top match will be played on Saturday in prime time at 9pm – and should be a very close story. A glance at the odds for Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid already reveals that no favourite can be identified at all.
On the contrary: The whole thing could hardly be much closer if you want to consult the betting odds of the betting providers with a German licence for the top match Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid: 2.77 on average for a home win for Sevilla, 2.90 for an away win for the guests from Madrid.
It is understandably difficult to make a prediction at first glance on this top match between Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, which should be on an equal footing – even if there is currently a small gap between the two clubs in the table.
Sevilla – Statistics & current form
For it is quite a bit surprising that it is not champions Atletico who are in 2nd place and five points ahead of Saturday’s opponents, but the other way around. Sevilla FC is the closest rival to Real Madrid. The Andalusians have 35 points on their account, five more than the champions Atletico, who are only in fourth place.
At least in terms of the standings, Sevilla are tiny favourites, even if this status is only marginally supported by the odds ahead of the Sevilla vs Atletico Madrid match.
Sevilla’s defence a guarantee of success
The significant difference between these two title aspirants at the moment: defensive stability. Although Atletico are normally famous and notorious for this, it is Sevilla who have the best defence in the league. The Andalusians have conceded only eleven goals in 16 games – the best record in Spain’s top flight. Sevilla have also yet to concede a home defeat, which is why we refrain from betting on the visitors against Atletico Madrid.
Sevilla already have ten wins to their name – and the amazing thing is that eight of them have been by zero! The defensive strength means that Sevilla do not always have to be convincing to take the three points – as seen, for example, in the 1-0 away win at the San Mames in Bilbao last matchday, where the victory was brought over time with luck and defensive skill against superior home side. This victory was not really deserved, rather it was taken in typical Atletico style.
Predicted Sevilla line-up:
Bono – Montiel, Kounde, Carlos, Augustinsson – Delaney, Jordan, Rakitic – Ocampos, Mir, Gomez
Last matches played by Sevilla:
Copa del Rey
12/15 2021 – CE Andratx (5)1 – 1(6) Sevilla
LaLiga
12/11 2021 – Athletic Bilbao 0 – 1 Sevilla
Champions League Grp. G
12/08 2021 – Salzburg 1 – 0 Sevilla
LaLiga
12/04 2021 – Sevilla 1 – 0 Villarreal FC
Copa del Rey
12/01 2021 – Cordoba 0 – 1 Sevilla
Atletico Madrid – Statistics & current form
Atletico Madrid continue to search for their form and consistency this season. In the Champions League, Los Rojiblancos also had a lot of problems, but made it to the last 16 by the skin of their teeth in the final in Porto.
But this sense of achievement quickly fizzled out, and days later they suffered a 2-0 defeat in the prestigious derby against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu – which has currently put an end to their hopes of defending the title. Atletico are a full 13 points behind leaders and arch-rivals Real Madrid (albeit with one game less).
Coach Diego Simeone can’t really find the answers to why his team is so inconsistent – and concedes so many goals. Even before the CL victory in Porto, the team lost a shocking 2-1 at home against promoted Mallorca – and that even after taking the lead.
Atletico’s defensive problems
Only in five of 17 league games did Simeone’s defence play to nil, or calculated the other way round: They conceded goals in twelve games. That is extremely untypical for Atletico, who are otherwise so well known for their unyielding defence. Nevertheless, in this top match, two teams meet who should not be expected to set off offensive fireworks.
Safety first is often the motto for both Sevilla and Atleti. Therefore, it is not surprising that the prediction for Sevilla against Atletico Madrid is not only generally close to Under 2.5, but also just 1.53 on average is offered for this.
Predicted line-up of Atletico Madrid:
Oblak – Felipe, Kondogbia, Hermoso – Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Lemar, Carrasco – Correa, Suarez
Last matches played by Atletico Madrid:
LaLiga
12/12 2021 – Real Madrid 2 – 0 Atletico Madrid
Champions League Grp. B
12/07 2021 – FC Porto 1 – 3 Atletico Madrid
LaLiga
12/04 2021 – Atletico Madrid 1 – 2 Mallorca
11/28 2021 – Cadiz 1 – 4 Atletico Madrid
Champions League Grp. B
11/24 2021 – Atletico Madrid 0 – 1 AC Milan
Sevilla – Atletico Madrid Tip
Goals have always been scored between these teams recently: The last 0-0 draw was six years ago, and since then twelve duels have been played in which at least one team has always scored, and often both. Last season, Sevilla won with their typical 1:0, the Andalusians’ favourite result under coach Julen Lopetegui.
With Sevilla in much better form and a power at home anyway – they have yet to lose at home, winning six of their seven home games – it is hard to imagine Atletico in their current form managing a first away win by a La Liga team at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
There is simply a lot to be said for a draw between two teams that should basically meet on equal terms. Also because Atletico’s third league defeat is simply very difficult for us to imagine, our prediction for Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid is: There will be a draw in the top match.
