Sevilla manager Julen Lopetegui bought himself a stay of execution with a combined four La Liga (LL) points on the road at Espanyol (W 3-2) and Villarreal (D 1-1) prior to the international break. Owing to Sevilla’s equal-worst six-game start to a LL season in 20 years and their winless UEFA Champions League campaign so far, Lopetegui looks set to be walking a tightrope for the foreseeable future, perhaps making the upcoming home game against Atlético Madrid less than timely.
Lopetegui attributed Sevilla’s early season malaise to poor form from individual players, so perhaps the international break will help those key players find their feet. Kasper Dolberg and Thomas Delaney recorded a goal and assist respectively in Denmark’s defeat of France, while new signing Tanguy Nianzou was on the scoresheet for the French U21 side, and Lopetegui will hope that goal scoring prowess may help his side finally nose ahead in a LL home game for the first time this season.
Atlético boss Diego Simeone’s managerial record against Lopetegui indicates a close affair may be on the cards here (W2, D4, L2), but with Sevilla one of the six clubs that Atlético could not conquer in LL last season (D1, L1), Simeone will be keen to tip the personal H2H balance in his favour. Having already failed to win across three contests against fellow 2021/22 top-six finishers in this current campaign (D1, L2), travelling to last season’s fourth-placed side in the form of Sevilla perhaps wouldn’t be the game of choice for Atlético.
In fact, confirmation of Atlético’s worst six-game start to a LL season in a decade could leave some wondering if Simeone’s expiry date is finally on the horizon. If the squad were in need of any extra inspiration to kickstart their resurgence though, title-winning captain Koke will this weekend eclipse Adelardo Rodríguez’s club record with his 554th appearance in Atlético colours if selected.
Players to watch: Sevilla will be hoping Dolberg brings his goalscoring form back to Seville, particularly given his incredible club record of W9, D1 over the last two seasons when on the scoresheet. Spain’s match winner against Portugal during the week, Álvaro Morata, has found the back of the net in his last two meetings with Sevilla.
Hot streak: The home side on the day has not lost any of the eight LL H2Hs since 2018/19 (W3, D5).
