Image Sevilla in a vibrant pink chiffon gown, with fashion and with out a very deliberate neckline. On the day, Sevilla have been stuffed with character, an ingredient of enjoyable, and shall be remembered for his or her contribution with a keenness already tinted by the heat of nostalgia on a chilly night time. All with out stealing the present: Atletico Madrid have been nonetheless the discuss the following day, the giddy antics of the night time earlier than a declaration of intentions for the title. They shone, and the French groom was praised for his ease on the dance flooring. Now add a giant pair of pink boxing gloves to Sevilla’s outfit.
On Sunday, Los Nervionenses have been a perfect mixture of the proper bridesmaid and a worthy sparring associate for Atletico. They caught Los Colchoneros on a number of events smack within the jaw, jolting them into life, opening the adrenaline valve, and transferring with an agility that little doubt stunned even these of their nook. Forward of Atletico’s heavyweight conflict on the 21st of December, their rumble up the magic mountain with Barcelona, Sevilla have been a check that went effectively past apply.
All through the early phases of this season, each dialog surrounding the Andalusian giants has been about their limitations, each match has been tinged with ifs. Droning on and on. With the membership round them shaking like a snowglobe, the mud by no means settles. The gamers, the supervisor – victims of circumstance, merchandise of misfortune. On the Metropolitano, for the primary time in a very long time, Sevilla did their speaking on the pitch, and shouted about what they do have.
Orgullosos de vosotros 🥰 pic.twitter.com/c2OJiARyXo
— Sevilla Fútbol Membership (@SevillaFC) December 9, 2024
For the primary time this season, Atletico conceded three targets in home soccer. Diego Simeone’s facet have been on a run of 1 aim conceded in 4 video games. For Sevilla, it was the primary time they’d scored 3 times in 7 months, and the primary time their beginning striker had tasted the aim nectar in 8 months. Their efficiency accounted for 27% of the targets Atletico have conceded and 18% of the Sevilla’s whole scored.
Granted, they conceded 4, however in the event you exclude the 9 targets scored by Barcelona and Atleti, they’ve conceded 14 instances in 14 video games – wanting ahead, that’s a sturdy sufficient defence for an above common assault to win video games. The fact, possibly the hope is a greater description, that this recreation reaches far past the capital for Sevilla. Supervisor Garcia Pimienta had not a touch of negativity in his post-match press convention. His solely remorse was that they misplaced.
“If we play like that, we’ll win many extra video games,” he mentioned, trying to find the precise tone between contentment and disappointment. “It was a brutal effort, the gamers put their lives on the road for the staff. It leaves a bitter style within the mouth, and clearly you probably did issues improper in defence in the event you concede 4, however I’ll stand by the concept we performed a whole recreation.”
From the view given to you by the cameras, excessive and large, the 2 issues you’re most disadvantaged of are the pace and the imaginative and prescient of the gamers. At pitch-level, most matches on the high degree appear to be a maelstrom of transferring our bodies, and the artwork is the actual fact the gamers choose their method by way of it in any respect. In that regard, Sevilla confirmed a lot extra than simply coronary heart and dedication.
Isaac Romero 🫶#AtletiSevillaFC #LALIGAHighlightspic.twitter.com/qXxmp7Txbp
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) December 8, 2024
From a top-down view, what we may see, is that Sevilla persistently made the precise decisions repeatedly till the ultimate phases. Atletico weren’t solely stored at arm’s size, however confounded by Sevilla’s use of the ball. In Dodi Lukebakio, they’ve a star that irrespective of the opposition, is tough to deal with, and he was too scorching for the house facet of their first aim.
Their second noticed Sevilla traverse from the sting of their very own field to only inside Atletico’s in a transfer that took 9 seconds, 6 touches and three gamers for Isaac Romero to attain. Their third noticed them dance out and in of attain, toying with Atletico, in a transfer that ended with Juanlu Sanchez, however concerned nearly the complete staff having fun with the ball within the opposition half. On a number of events extra, Sevilla stretched Atletico’s defence, after which tore by way of it gleefully.
For too lengthy, Sevilla have been engaged in dreary relationship with the ball, a morose strategy to matches has grow to be the norm. On Sunday, there was life, exuberance, a rejection of the sullen method that has consumed the membership – like Garcia Pimienta, any fan or participant will join that character. Sevilla got here away with none factors from the Metropolitano, however they may simply have caught the bouquet.