Atletico Madrid welcomed Sevilla to the Spanish capital on Sunday looking to move level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
They took the lead after 22 minutes when Radamel Falcao converted from the penalty spot, while Sevilla were reduced to 10 men when Federico Fazio received his marching orders in the same incident.
It was then two and quickly three for Atletico in the latter stages of the half when Arda Turan and Koke added to the scoring.
The home side had chances to add to their scoring in the second period, while Sevilla were reduced to nine men late on when Ivan Rakitic was given his marching orders.
There was time for a fourth, however, as Miranda tapped home in the final moments of the match.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Evening all! What a match we have on our hands here as two sides battling for Champions League football clash in Madrid. Atletico recovered from their only league defeat of the season against Valencia to win their last two, while Sevilla enter the match fresh from a 5-1 win over fellow high-flyers Real Betis last time out.
Sevilla have also enjoyed the better of the recent meetings between the two sides. They have managed two victories, with the other three games ending in a draw. However, Atletico are a different animal from previous seasons.
Teams:
Atletico Madrid: Courtois; Miranda, Juanfran, Luis, Godin; Tiago, Gabi, Turan, Koke; Falcao, Costa
Sevilla: Palop; Maduro, Navarro, Spahic, Fazio, Cicinho; Reyes, Rakitic, Kondogbia, Navas; Diawara
Here we go then. Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. Passionate crowd? Check. Let's get the action underway in Madrid.
Sevilla get us underway on this mild evening in the Spanish capital. Both of these sides have been in impressive form of late. Let's hope that is shown in this match.
All-action start to the match with Atletico looking to dictate the tempo in midfield. However, Kondogbia and Rakitic have closed down at every opportunity thus far. You just get the feeling that this match will be won and lost in midfield.
Neither side has really managed to settle in the early stages with the challenges continuing to fly in from both teams. Arda Turan attempts to find the run of Falcao, but Fazio is on hand to clear the danger.
We are still waiting for the first real attack of the match as both sides continue to exchange spells of possession in midfield. Reyes has the first attempt from long range, but Courtios was always comfortable in collecting.
Sevilla have just started to enjoy an extended spell with the ball in the past few moments. Meanwhile, Spahic gains a free kick out wide as he is fouled by Gabi. However, it breaks down and Atletico launch an attack of their own.
Again Sevilla threaten with the pace of Diawara, but Juanfran steps across the striker to usher the ball for a goal kick. We have seen relatively little from Falcao and Diego Costa for the home side thus far.
Diego Simeone looks a frustrated man on the sidelines as he barks out orders to his side. They have not really started this match as of yet. Meanwhile, Sevilla look threatening with the pace of Reyes and Navas in wide areas.
Spahic and Fazio remain ever so tight to Falcao in the opening 15 minutes as they give away a host of free kicks against the Colombian. But their pressure has worked with the much-coveted striker struggling to influence proceedings. Nothing much from Atletico as an attacking threat thus far.
Big penalty shout from the home side as Costa is felled in the area by Fazio, but the referee shakes his head and Sevilla clear the danger. Replays have suggested that the striker may have had a case as he was tugged to the deck.
We are still waiting for the first real chance of the match this evening. Reyes has had a sighter for Sevilla, but aside from that chances have been at a severe premium.
PENALTY TO ATLETICO AND RED CARD FOR FEDERICO FAZIO: Sevilla are reduced to 10 men as Fazio fells Falcao in the penalty area. The Colombian striker will take.
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 1-0 Sevilla (Falcao)
Falcao converts from the penalty spot to send his side into a 1-0 lead. Oh how quickly this match has changed. How do Sevilla recover from here?
The Colombian striker is back among the goals once more and as it stands Atletico are moving level on points with Barcelona at the top of La Liga. Sevilla had started this match the stronger.
I said earlier in the match that Fazio had kept a close eye on Falcao thus far. Unfortunately it was his undoing as he tugged the striker to the floor in the penalty area. Meanwhile, Sevilla are preparing a change with Botia the man to be introduced.
Sevilla do indeed make the change as Kondogbia is replaced by Botia. It is cruel on the midfielder who was enjoying a rare start this evening. Bilbao firmly have their tails up now as they look to extend their lead.
Another half-chance comes the way of Atletico as Gabi whips a dangerous cross into the penalty area, but Navarro rises highest to clear. However, it is all one-way traffic at the moment with Falcao firing just wide of the target.
Atletico continue to force the issue as Costa meets a high cross in the penalty area, but Palop collects the danger. Meanwhile, there is a threat that this match could boil over with a host of dangerous challenges.
Falcao has certainly come alive since his opener and he comes close once more as he collects a pass from Turan inside the Deportivo box, but his effort is deflected behind by Cicinho. Meanwhile, the resulting corner is cleared by Spahic.
Little over 10 minutes of the half remaining and Atletico are completely in control of the match. But at 1-0, Sevilla always have a chance. That is if they can keep 10 men on the pitch as Maduro picks up yet another booking for the away side.
Diawara is really struggling to get into the match for Sevilla. The striker is a willing runner but he simply has no support in the attacking third. Meanwhile, Turan and Falcao continue to threaten for Atletico.
Not a great deal happening in terms of chances at the moment. The home side are dominating possession with Sevilla attempting to threaten on the counter. But clear opportunities have been scarce thus far.
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 2-0 Sevilla (Turan)
The home side have their second as Falcao finds Turan inside the penalty area and the midfielder slips his effort under Palop, albeit via a deflection from Spahic.
It is difficult to see how Sevilla can claw their way back into this match after falling two goals behind. And it could get worse before the break with Falcao and Turan in the mood.
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 3-0 Sevilla (Koke)
The home side score their second moments before the interval as Koke pounces on a loose ball inside the box before thumping his effort into the bottom corner.
Incredible half of football from Atletico. When they play like this you understand why they currently sit second in the table ahead of Real Madrid. Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play one minute of football at the end of the half.
Atletico Madrid 3-0 Sevilla
So there we have it. Goals from Falcao, Turan and Koke hand Atletico a thumping 3-0 lead over Sevilla at the interval. Meanwhile, the away side have been reduced to 10 men with Fazio receiving his marching orders.
As it stands Atletico would move level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table. Meanwhile, Sevilla would drop to 10th position. It is going to take a minor miracle for the away side to turn this around.
There were suggestions that Falcao had lost a bit of form in recent weeks, but he has returned with a bang this evening. Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football.
Atletico have just shaded possession with 51%, but they have managed seven shots to Sevilla's one. The singular effort for the away side came early on from Reyes, when Sevilla were the stronger side.
Here we go then. Atletico kick us off in the second period and immediately launch an attack. However, Navarro is on hand to clear the danger for a throw. Immediate pressure.
Sevilla attempt to quell the flow of pressure with a period of possession. However, there is simply no out-ball at the moment with Navas and Reyes having to move into a more central area.
First half-chance of the second period for Sevilla as Reyes whips a dangerous free kick into the penalty area, but Godin is on hand to clear the danger. An early goal for the away side would at least raise their spirits.
Normal service is resumed, however, as Atletico take control of the possession and immediately look for the run of Falcao. The striker has the ball in the back of the net as he lobs Palop, but the flag is raised for offside.
The match just needs a spark at the moment in order to keep the entertainment factor. Atletico are just so comfortable and it appears that Sevilla do not want to lose any more goals.
Just a reminder that it is the Madrid derby next weekend as Atletico travel to the Bernabeu. What a match that will be. I would not be surprised to see Simeone rest some players as this half progresses.
Another chance comes the way of the home side as Turan finds Falcao in the box, but Palop makes a fine save to deny the Colombian. The much-coveted striker is in the mood this evening.
CHANCE! Atletico come close to number four as Costa drives into the Deportivo box, but his effort smashes against the crossbar. It was an awful pass from Reyes in the lead up.
In fairness to Sevilla they are attempting to attack when presented with the opportunity, but they simply do not have the numbers and it is leaving huge gaps for the home side to exploit. I would be surprised if it ended 3-0.
Change for Sevilla as Diego Perotti replaces Reyes. The latter is not given a fond reception from his former club's supporters. Little over 25 minutes of football remaining and the home side are so comfortable it isn't true.
Atletico also make their first change of the evening as Cristian Rodriguez replaces Costa. That is a clear indication that the striker will start against Real Madrid next weekend. The Brazilian has had an impressive 66 minutes of football.
Half-chance for the home side to extend their lead as Koke whips a low cross into the penalty area, but Botia clears the danger. Atletico are playing in second gear at the moment.
CHANCE! It should have been four for Atletico as Turan whips a low ball into the penalty area, but Falcao just cannot make the telling touch and Valencia live to fight another day.
Again it's good work from the home side as Gabi searches out the run of Thiago, but the midfielder just cannot collect and Palop restarts the play. Little under 20 minutes of football remaining.
Decent move from Valencia as Navas advances down the right before finding Diawara, but the striker just cannot keep possession. Meanwhile, another change for the home side as Emre replaces Gabi.
Sevilla make another change as Javier Hervas replaces Navas for the final 15 minutes of action. Not a great deal happening at the moment truth be told with Atletico controlling possession.
The changes continue to come as Koke is replaced by Raul Garcia for the home side. It has interrupted the flow of the match. In truth, it has been a bit of a nothing second period.
Sevilla are threatening to lose their heads here as boss Michel takes exception to a tackle from Emre. There was nothing much in it in truth. Meanwhile, it is understood that Luna has been sent off from the Sevilla bench.
Just a reminder that we have action from Levante vs. Barcelona following this match. Be sure to remain with us for that one. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Luna was given his marching orders for offensive language towards the referee.
RED CARD: Ivan Rakitic: Sevilla are reduced to nine men as the midfielder picks up his second yellow card of the match for kicking out at Thiago.
Sevilla have certainly lost their heads here as they bundle into challenge after challenge. It has not been a good evening for Michel and his side. Atletico have possession with little over three minutes of normal time remaining.
Meanwhile, the fourth official has indicated that we will play an additional three minutes of added time.
Atletico are just playing out this match at the moment as they exchange passes in midfield. The damage was done in the opening period and it has been ever so comfortable for the home side since then.
GOAL! Atletico Madrid 4-0 Sevilla (Miranda)
The home side have their fourth as Miranda taps home from close range. They are moving level on points with Barcelona.
Atletico Madrid 4-0 Sevilla
So there we have it. Atletico record a thumping win over Sevilla to move level on points with Barcelona. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action and stay with us for Levante vs. Barcelona.
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
