Sevilla 2-1 Atletico Madrid
Seven days before Christmas, was this late goal in the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan the one which ends the La Liga title defence of reigning champions Atletico Madrid?
A third successive league defeat, this time to Sevilla, leaves them 13 points behind city rivals and leaders Real Madrid, who are threatening to run away with domestic glory.
That is not to say their current plight should detract from the achievements of the Andalusians, who have grown in stature under Julen Lopetegui this year.
Indeed, the delight amongst the home faithful when Lucas Ocampos grabbed the winner in the closing moments will prove one of their La Liga 2021 highlights of the season.
Highlights of the game
A meeting of the challengers, this was a contest neither side could afford to lose.
Atletico had flattered to deceive and were in the middle of a discernible slump with front men Luis Suarez going through a lean patch, Antoine Griezmann unavailable and Joao Felix rated doubtful to start.
Perhaps the most alarming statistic for boss Diego Simeone was at the other end of the pitch.
The champions, who have built much of their recent success on an excellent defensive record, had conceded 18 times in 16 games going into this one.
By contrast, Sevilla boasted the top defensive record in 2021-22, conceding just 11 times before tonight.
Although they had bowed out of the Champions League at the group stage, they had won four of their last five domestic matches, including victories over Cordoba and Andratx in the Copa del Rey, and were already five points clear of Atletico.
That form was evident early on and it took Sevilla just seven minutes to get in front as Ivan Rakitic received the ball outside the area and delivered a powerful shot which gave Jan Oblak no chance.
To their credit, Atletico hit back and were level before the break as Felipe headed home a Thomas Lemar corner to restore parity.
Both clubs lost players to injury during the first half with Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Llorente forced to leave the fray.
The introduction of Felix at the break helped Atletico as more of an attacking force. Although, a cagey second half saw few opportunities created by either team with tensions raised on the pitch and on the touchline, including Simeone, who was spoken to by the referee.
Yet, just when it seemed honours were going to be even – even with the SBOTOP La Liga 2021 betting odds – Ocampos reacted quickest at a corner kick to slam a powerful shot past Oblak.
To sum up the visitors night, deep in stoppage time, what looked like a Felix cross came back off the crossbar and Sevilla had the points, although their matchwinner left the pitch on a stretcher after a late knock.
Key statistics
Rakitic is now the second-leading scoring Croatian player in La Liga history after Davor Suker.
Sevilla have conceded just 12 goals in La Liga this season – the lowest by any team. They have kept a total of nine clean sheets so far, the joint-highest along with Real Sociedad.
Atletico have now lost three consecutive La Liga games for the first time under Simeone.
They are also winless in their last four away games against Sevilla in La Liga (drawn two, lost two).
Suarez has now played eight consecutive games without scoring (in all competitions), his worst run since he arrived in Spain in 2014.
Until today, Sevilla had won one of their last nine La Liga meetings against Atletico Madrid.
What’s next?
Sevilla host Barcelona on Tuesday evening (December 21) in their final match of the year before a brief festive break, after which they will resume away to Cadiz on January 3.
Atletico travel to Granada on Wednesday evening and then also have a short break ahead of entertaining Rayo Vallecano on January 2.
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