Atletico Madrid welcomed Sevilla to the Vicente Calderon on Sunday knowing that three points would see them return to the top of the La Liga table.
Both sides had opportunities in a first period that took time to ignite, but the pair entered the break on terms.
Sevilla's task became harder in the 61st minute when Vitolo picked up his second yellow card of the match, but the visitors held on to secure a point in the capital.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Afternoon all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Vicente Calderon as Atletico Madrid welcome Sevilla in arguably the game of the weekend in Spain's top flight. Diego Simeone's Atletico know that a win here would see them return to the top of the table ahead of Barcelona, who beat Malaga 2-1 on Saturday, but it will be tough against a Sevilla side that seem to have found their feet following a difficult opening to the 2015-16 season. It should be a real cracker from Madrid!
Atletico are unbeaten in their last 10 league games against Sevilla, but five of those have been draws. That said, Sevilla have not won a league match away to Atletico since September 2008. Earlier this season, Atletico recorded a 3-0 victory at the Estadio Ramon and they also thumped Sevilla 4-0 when the pair met in the corresponding league match at the Calderon last season.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. Are there any surprises in the lineups selected by Simeone or Unai Emery? Let's have a look...
TEAMS:
ATLETI: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Savic, Luis; Gabi, Augusto, Koke; Saul, Vietto, Griezmann
SEVILLA: Rico; Coke, Carrico, Rami, Tremoulinas; N'Zonzi, Krychowiak; Escudero, Banega, Vitolo; Llorente
Couple of surprises in the Atletico XI this afternoon, with Stefan Savic preferred to Jose Gimenez at centre-back and Saul Niguez starting ahead of Yannick Ferreira Carrasco in the final third. Four of the back five - including the goalkeeper - picks itself, while Augusto Fernandez continues his run in the side since joining from Celta Vigo this month. Luciano Vietto will lead the Atleti line.
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As for Sevilla, Vicente Iborra misses out through suspension, which has opened up a space in the team for Sergio Escudero, who will seemingly operate in a wide left position. Fernando Llorente has been somewhat surprisingly chosen to lead the line aheads of in-form Kevin Gameiro, while Yevhen Konoplyanka is also only on the bench as Emery looks to contain the home side.
So there we have it. The two teams are in and we are now 40 minutes from kickoff on this mild afternoon in the Spanish capital. It had been questioned whether Atletico would be able to challenge Barcelona and Real Madrid for the title this season. Well, those questions have been answered. Win here and Simeone's side would top the table entering next weekend's league game against Barcelona.
Played 20 - won 15, drawn two and lost three is how Atletico's league form reads this season. That total was enough to see them enter Week 21 two points clear at the top of the table, but Barcelona's 2-1 win at Malaga on Saturday has seen them vacate first spot. Real Madrid, meanwhile, sit four points behind Atletico in second and have some ground to make up on both teams.
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Atletico have won their last five league games at the Vicente Calderon, conceding just twice in the process, while they have only conceded five home goals all season. They were beaten 1-0 at Malaga before the winter break, but have been in seriously fine form since then. The 2013-14 La Liga champions are once again threatening to upset Barcelona and Real Madrid this term.
ON THE DEFENCE: In 20 league matches this season, Atletico have shipped just eight goals, which is just stunning. Jan Oblak has been one of the best goalkeepers in Europe this term, while a first-choice back four of Juanfran, Diego Godin, Jose Gimenez and Filipe Luis have thrived throughout the campaign. Three of those four are excellent players, but Godin is sensational. For me, there is not a better centre-back in the world of football. Not even close. He is a mountain.
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Atletico's league position is even more incredible when considering that they have only scored 30 league goals this season, which is 27 fewer than Real Madrid from the same number of games. Indeed, even the likes of Eibar have scored more league goals than Atletico this season. That is no disrespect to Eibar, who are going well, but those numbers are incredible for a team at the top.
Sevilla, meanwhile, have scored 28 times in their 20 matches and conceded 22. A total of 32 points has left them in seventh position in the table, but they are nine points off fourth place, which is currently occupied by Villarreal. A poor start to the season saw Sevilla fail to win in their opening five fixtures, but they have shown serious signs of improvement in recent weeks.
Indeed, Emery's side have only lost one of their last eight in the league and will enter the match off the back of a strong 2-0 win at home to Athletic Bilbao last weekend. Their away form has still not been addressed, however, with the Europa League holders failing to win in their last nine league games on the road – losing four times in the process. It has so often been their Achilles heel.
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Both sides will enter this match off the back of Copa del Rey fixtures during the week. Atletico were held to a 0-0 draw by Celta Vigo in the first leg of their quarter-final, but Sevilla were 2-0 winners over Mirandes. At the moment, my pick for the final four are Atletico, Barcelona, Sevilla and Valencia, although the latter have work to do after drawing 1-1 with Las Palmas at home.
I touched on it briefly, but next weekend Atletico will travel to Barcelona in the league. They lost at home to the Catalan giants earlier this season and will have revenge on their minds. With the head-to-head record standing in Spain when the points are level, Atletico really need to pick up all three points at Camp Nou, although a draw, if they win here, would keep them top of the table.
DID YOU KNOW? Only one of Atletico's last nine league goals have come in the first half of matches. Right, Atletico hardly ever concede and they do not score in the first half. Anyone fancy a bet of 0-0 half-time and full-time Atletico? My prediction will come before kickoff!
Just a word on Real Madrid before kickoff. Well, a little more than a word, but that is it Atletico fans, I promise. Los Blancos are in action later this evening away to struggling Real Betis and you can follow all the action live with me on Sports Mole from 6.30pm UK time for a 7.30pm start. Stay with us!
PREDICTION! I am finding it tough to look past Atletico here. They are so strong at home and Sevilla are just not the same team away from the Estadio Ramon. I am not expecting too many goals, that is for sure, but I fancy the hosts to record a narrow 1-0 win and return to the summit.
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A reminder of the two teams this afternoon...
ATLETI: Oblak; Juanfran, Godin, Savic, Luis; Gabi, Augusto, Koke; Saul, Vietto, Griezmann
SEVILLA: Rico; Coke, Carrico, Rami, Tremoulinas; N'Zonzi, Krychowiak; Escudero, Banega, Vitolo; Llorente
KICKOFF! Here we go then. Both sets of players join us on the pitch for the first period. Can Sevilla shock Atletico in the Spanish capital? We shall find out. The hosts open proceedings...
... you just get the feeling that Sevilla will need to score the first goal this afternoon if they are to stand a chance of securing a positive result. Atletico are difficult enough to beat when the score is 0-0, but it becomes 100x harder when they go ahead. Quick passing from the hosts early on.
Not an awful lot to report in either final third thus far, with both teams attempting to settle into the match. It is all a bit frantic at the moment as the pair battle for possession of the ball.
Atletico's first chance to deliver a free kick into the Sevilla box comes from the left, but Koke's cross is straight into the arms of Rico, who releases down the field. Little bit scrappy here.
BOOKING! Augusto (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Vitolo.
Half-chance for Sevilla as Rami stays forward from a set piece and manages to meet a super cross from the right, but his header was always moving wide of Oblak's post.
The referee has been a busy man in the opening 10 minutes as late challenges continue to occur from both teams. Llorente goes up with Godin for a header, but fouls the Atletico centre-back and that has been the story of the match thus far - stop-start in both halves of the field.
Half-chance for the Atletico skipper this time as Gabi meets a cross from Griezmann, but he struck the ball into the ground and it was never causing Rico concern in the Sevilla net.
It will not come as much of a surprise that Sevilla are trying to hit Llorente with every set piece, but Godin is an absolute monster in the air and has been equal to the danger thus far. Sevilla are actually a massive team in terms of height, while Atletico, apart from their two centre-backs, are not.
Atletico continue to pass and probe in the final third as they look for an opening, but Sevilla are nice and compact at the back and are more than prepared to sit in and absorb the threat. Saul breaks into the Sevilla box before having a go, but his effort was always hitting the side netting.
Another half-chance for Sevilla as Krychowiak rises highest to meet a corner, but his header was always rising over the crossbar. Pretty even game with 17 minutes on the clock here.
N'Zonzi thinks we are playing hand-ball and decides to flap at the ball in the middle of the park and the former Stoke City midfielder is lucky to escape a booking. That has been the story of the match thus far, with neither team creating an opportunity of serious note in the capital.
There was just an interesting game of head-tennis in the middle of the park and it is all a bit of a battle at the moment as both teams attempt to gain some sort of control of the possession.
I expected Atletico to control this game for long spells, but Sevilla have been impressive in their approach. The decision to start Llorente has provided them with a serious aerial threat and he is taking care of Godin at the back. The last couple ofd minutes have been good from Sevilla.
Coke header over the Atletico crossbar from another Sevilla corner.
CHANCE! Just about the best chance of the match thus far as Juanfran feeds a super cross into Griezmann, but the Frenchman can only turn his low effort wide of the post!
Good pressure from Atletico in the last couple of minutes as Rico is forced into action to clear a couple of corners, before Sevilla are put under pressure from a cross from the left. This is very typical of an Atletico-type performance and their results suggest that it is a method that works.
Atletico seem to have got a grip of the possession in the last few minutes, while Luis and Juanfran are pushing high up the park and forcing Vitolo and Escudero to retreat. Koke has another chance to deliver a free kick into the Sevilla box, but Coke is up to head down-field.
Gabi again has a go from distance, but again he misses the target.
BOOKING! Vitolo (Sevilla) is booked for a late tackle on Augusto.
CHANCE! Another opportunity for the home side as Godin heads towards the back post, but on the stretch, Griezmann can only fire over the crossbar. Still goalless in the capital.
BOOKING! Llorente (Sevilla) is booked for a heavy challenge on Godin.
CROSSBAR! Sevilla's best chance of the match comes to Banega as Escudero sets up the midfielder inside the box, but his effort is deflected onto the crossbar and behind!
Little over five minutes of the first period remaining and we are still waiting for the first goal of the match. It has been tight for long spells, but it is really starting to open up in Madrid.
Escudero spots Oblak off his line and attempts to beat the Atletico stopper, but the goalkeeper retreats before claiming. Both sides have had opportunities to break the deadlock here.
Atletico continue to force the issue in a wide area as Luis combines with Saul before attempting to deliver, but Rami is on hand to clear and Sevilla manage to push up the park once again. Saul then has a go from distance, but the Spaniard's effort was always rising high of Rico's goal.
Decent pressure from Atletico at the moment, but not a whole lot happening here.
CHANCE! Super chance for Sevilla to take the lead late in the first period, but Coke's low strike is pushed wide by Oblak, who is having a wonderful season for his team.
HALF-TIME: Atletico 0-0 Sevilla
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with the two teams level at 0-0. Atletico have just about shaded it, but both sides have had opportunities to break the deadlock. My pre-match prediction of 0-0 HT and 1-0 Atletico is looking stronger now!
STATISTICS! Atletico have dominated the possession with 66%, while they have had nine attempts, but none of those were on target. Sevilla, meanwhile, registered one attempt on target from six attempts. There have also been three bookings - two for Sevilla and one for Atletico.
BENCH WATCH! Atletico have a number of attacking options on their bench this afternoon, with Correa, Carrasco, Martinez and Thomas all capable of making an impact. Sevilla, meanwhile, have the likes of Gameiro, Krohn-Dehli, Reyes and Konoplyanka on what is an attack-minded bench.
MATCH PIC!
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RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players re-join us on the pitch for the second period. Will we have a breakthrough in the capital? Only time will tell! Sevilla resume the action here...
... ATLETICO SUB! Carrasco has replaced Fernandez for the home side.
Atletico already have more intent in the final third of the field, with Carrasco picking up clever areas outside the Sevilla box. You get the feeling that one goal would be enough to win this match and Atletico are used to taking the energy out of teams before striking in the second period.
Sevilla are finding it difficult to get out of their own half at the moment as Atletico pass and probe in the final third of the field. Llorente has not had too much up top with Sevilla and it would not be a surprise to see the tall striker gain some support as the half progresses here.
Atletico have a shout for a penalty as Griezmann goes down inside the box, but the referee is not interested and Sevilla are on the counter down the other end. Atletico manage to clear for a corner and the resulting set piece is headed clear by, you guessed it, Godin. Still 0-0 here.
POST! Atletico come close to taking the lead as Griezmann meets a super cross from Koke, but the Frenchman's well-placed header hits the outside of the post and drops wide!
SEVILLA SUB! Sevilla are forced into a sub as Krohn-Dehli replaces Escudero.
Sevilla continue to hold out here, but I would be surprised if Atletico did not have at least two or three more chances to find the back of the net. Simeone has plenty of attacking options on his bench and might see Correa or Martinez as the player to support Griezmann in the final third.
Llorente does not look comfortable for Sevilla as he limps off the field holding his thigh.
Gabi, intent on scoring from distance today, again strikes one from outside the box, but his effort is over the target. I think he has a bet on himself to score from distance in this game!
RED CARD! VITOLO! Sevilla are reduced to 10 men as Vitolo is given a second yellow card for a poor challenge on Vietto just outside the box. Big blow for the visitors here!
Emery is fuming on the touchline, but it was a poor challenge from Vitolo!
Emery has been sent to the stands for dissent!
BOOKING! Carrasco (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Banega.
Atletico have the best part of 25 minutes to find a goal against 10 men and they will fancy their chances, that is for sure. Sevilla are preparing to make their second change of the match...
... BOOKING! Carrico (Sevilla) is booked for a late challenge on Vietto.
SAVE! Atletico continue to put the pressure on and have another opportunity as Carrasco strikes one towards the bottom corner following a quick free kick, but Rico makes a fine stop!
SEVILLA SUB! Gameiro replaces Llorente.
You still get the feeling that there is a goal in this match as both teams continue to commit players in the final third. As expected, Sevilla are being a little bit cautious, but Atletico, with the extra man, will fancy their chances of picking some holes in the final 20 minutes of action.
Atletico continue to threaten as Godin stays forward from a set piece and threatens to meet a cross from Gabi, but it is super defending from Coke, who manages to clear for a corner!
Jackson Martinez is getting changed for Atletico and this would be a good time to start repaying some of his transfer fee back! The hosts need something special in Madrid. Instead it is Sevilla that create a half-chance, but Savic manages to bundle Coke's effort just wide.
SEVILLA SUB! Cristoforo replaces Banega.
ATLETICO SUB! Martinez replaces Saul.
Griezmann comes wide before delivering towards Martinez, but Rami is on hand to clear the danger as Sevilla continue to soak up the pressure on offer from the home side here.
ATLETICO SUB! Correa replaces Vietto for the home team.
Sevilla are just sitting back and defending their own box as Atletico continue to force the issue in the final third. This is where the visitors will need to dig deep against this Atletico team.
SAVE! Super stop from Rico as the Sevilla goalkeeper keeps out Gabi.
BOOKING! Rico (Sevilla) is booked for time-wasting.
Luis and Juanfran take it in turns to deliver into the Sevilla box, but Rami and Carrico have headed everything away this afternoon and will have to do so for the next five minutes.
BOOKING! Luis (Atletico) is booked for a late challenge on Rico.
Rico is still down here so we will have a substantial amount of added time.
Rico is back on his feet and I am not overly sure that he was too hurt there!
FIVE MINUTES HAVE BEEN ADDED!
Atletico have possession inside the Sevilla half, but there are so many shirts to get through!
Carrasco stands over a free kick outside the Sevilla box and...
... it is deflected over the crossbar!
Gabi again fires over the crossbar and that could be their final change.
Rico collects a cross from the right and falls to the deck. Could be it.
FULL-TIME: Atletico 0-0 Sevilla
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period at the Vicente Calderon to a close and Sevilla have held on to secure an excellent point at Atletico, who have missed the chance to return to the summit. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Until next time!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
