Atletico Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Sevilla on Saturday, propelling them into third place in La Liga despite playing the final 20 minutes with 10 men. The match, originally postponed in September due to inclement weather, saw Marcos Llorente emerge as the hero for Diego Simeone’s side.
Llorente, introduced as a substitute at halftime, needed just one minute to make his mark. Capitalising on a defensive error by Sevilla centre-back Sergio Ramos, Llorente pounced on a loose ball and fired past goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic from an acute angle. His strike proved to be the only goal of the game.
While Llorente’s introduction paid dividends, not all of Simeone’s tactical tweaks paid off. Caglar Soyuncu, who replaced Koke just four minutes earlier, received a straight red card in the 70th minute for a reckless challenge on Lucas Ocampos. In response, Simeone brought on defender Reinildo Mandava for Antoine Griezmann, a decision that clearly frustrated the Frenchman.
Griezmann, who arrived at the stadium sporting a T-shirt honouring the late Atletico manager Luis Aragones, remained visibly annoyed after being substituted before the full-time whistle. The early exit came just as Griezmann had equalled Aragones’ record of 173 goals as Atletico’s all-time leading scorer.
The victory puts Atletico firmly in third place in La Liga, seven points behind leaders Real Madrid and second-placed Girona. They also leapfrog arch-rivals Barcelona on goal difference. Conversely, Sevilla’s struggles continue, with the team ending the year in 15th position, just three points clear of the relegation zone.
Atletico’s win showcased their resilience and ability to grind out results, even when faced with adversity. Llorente’s timely strike and Simeone’s tactical adjustments proved decisive in securing the three points. As for Sevilla, they will need to find a way to improve their form in the new year if they are to avoid getting dragged into a relegation battle.