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Imagine Sevilla in a bright red chiffon dress, stylish and without too deliberate a neckline. That day Sevilla was full of personality, an ingredient of fun, and will be remembered for its contribution with an affection already tinged with the heat of nostalgia on a cold night. All without stealing the show: Atlético de Madrid was still the talk the next day, the dizzying antics of the night before a declaration of intent for the title. They shined and the French groom was praised for his ease on the dance floor. Now add a great pair of red boxing gloves to Seville’s outfit.
On Sunday, Los Nervionenses were an ideal mix of the perfect bridesmaid and a worthy Atlético sparring partner. Los Colchoneros were slapped on the jaw on several occasions, giving them life, opening the adrenaline valve and moving with an agility that undoubtedly surprised even those in their corner. Looking ahead to Atlético’s heavyweight clash on the 21ststreet December, their fight for the magic mountain with Barcelona and Sevilla was a test that went far beyond practice.
Throughout the early stages of this season, every conversation surrounding the Andalusian giants has been about their limitations, every match has been tinged with Yeah. Buzzing over and over again. With the club around him shaking like a snowball, the dust never settles. The players, the coach: victims of circumstances, product of misfortune. At the Metropolitano, for the first time in a long time, Sevilla spoke on the pitch and shouted what they have.
Proud of you 🥰 pic.twitter.com/c2OJiARyXo
— Sevilla Fútbol Club (@SevillaFC) December 9, 2024
For the first time this season, Atlético lost three goals in national football. Diego Simeone’s men had a streak of one goal conceded in 4 games. For Sevilla, it was the first time they had scored three goals in 7 months, and the first time their starting striker had tasted the nectar of goals in 8 months. His performance accounted for 27% of the goals that Atlético has conceded and 18% of the total scored by Sevilla.
Of course, they conceded four, but if you exclude the 9 goals scored by Barcelona and Atleti, they have conceded 14 times in 14 games; Going forward, it’s a solid enough defense for an above-average offense to win games. The reality, perhaps hope is a better description, is that this match reaches far beyond the capital for Sevilla. Coach García Pimienta didn’t have a shred of negativity in his post-match press conference. The only thing he regretted was losing.
“If we play like this, we will win many more games,” he said, seeking the right tone between satisfaction and disappointment. “It was a brutal effort, the players risked their lives for the team. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth and obviously you did things wrong defensively if you conceded four, but I maintain the idea that we played a complete game.”
From the view that the cameras give you, high and wide, the two things you are most deprived of are the speed and the vision of the players. At the field level, most matches at the top level look like a maelstrom of bodies in motion, and the art is the fact that the players choose their path through it. In that sense, Sevilla showed much more than heart and commitment.
Isaac Romero 🫶#AtletiSevillaFC #LALIGAHighlightspic.twitter.com/qXxmp7Txbp
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) December 8, 2024
From a top-down perspective, what we could see is that Sevilla made the right decisions time and time again until the final stages. Not only did Atlético stay at a distance, but they were also confused by Sevilla’s use of the ball. In Dodi Lukebakio, they have a star who, no matter the opponent, is difficult to handle, and he was too hot for the hosts on his first goal.
In the second, Sevilla crossed from the edge of their own area to just inside Atlético in a play that needed 9 seconds, 6 touches and 3 players for Isaac Romero to score. The third saw them dancing in and out of reach, playing with Atlético, in a play that ended with Juanlu Sánchez, but involved almost the entire team. enjoying the ball in the opponent’s field. On several more occasions, Sevilla stretched Atlético’s defense and then merrily broke through.
Sevilla have had a dismal relationship with the ball for too long and a taciturn approach to matches has become the norm. On Sunday there was life, exuberance, a rejection of the sullen attitude that has consumed the club; like García Pimienta, any fan or player will sign up for that personality. Sevilla was left without points from the Metropolitano, but perhaps they took the bouquet.
