Carrasco del Atlético de Madrid ante el Sevilla FC
Match reports

2-0: A GOOD DISPLAY, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO WIN IN THE WANDA

23/09/2017
An unfortunate goal in the first minute of the second half made Sevilla's first visit to the Wanda Metropolitano an unsuccessful one, in a match where Carrasco and Griezmann scored. Berizzo's side sits third in the table ahead of their Champions League clash with Maribor

After 132 games unbeaten in official matches, Sevilla FC lost this Saturday in the Wanda Metropolitano in a game of two very different halves. After a very strong first-half from Sevilla, where Sergio Rico saw next to no threat to his goal, everything changed in the first minute of the second with the goal of Carrasco. Sevilla were forced to look for an equaliser, and Griezmann finished the game off, leaving Sevilla to think ahead to Maribor before returning to La Liga competition next week. 

Sevilla came out well and with the intention of stealing an away win. Crosses came in, knowing that the Madrid centre-backs might struggle to get their lines clear from the wings. Jesús Navas cut inside often, testing the vigilence of Felipe Luis. On the other flank, Sarabia was the first to test the goal with a long shot which deflected wickedly off Savic and hit the post. A replica soon after, just after quarter of an hour, came from Felipe who shot against Rico's crossbar after a powerful counter-attack.

Sarabia and Luis had the two biggest chances of the first half

The game continued on the same lines, without too many chances in respective areas, and two different styles of creating them. Sevilla looked for flicks and always played short passes, where Atleti were more direct in their play - trying to find Griezmann. The defense nonetheless continued playing well, with Mercado always alert and covering. 

However, that impregnability found in the first-half was broken a few seconds after the restart. A ball from Vietto to Carrasco up the wing, who fought for the ball with N'Zonzi. The centre-midfielder made a back-pass to Rico that was just too short, allowing the striker to put it past Sergio Rico. Sevilla tried to respond with a run from Muriel, but were denied by Gabi. 

Carrasco scored in the 46th minute, breaking the 461 minutes Sevilla had gone without conceding

Los Nervionenses looked for the equaliser, but Atlético managed the situation perfectly, allowing Griezmann to score 20 minutes from time with a curling shot after a Felipe Luis pass. Correa, Ben Yedder and Krohn-Dehli injected life from the bench but could not help in finding a goal. A three man defensive line wasn't enough to break down the defense of Atlético. 

The Sevilla streak is over, losing their first official match since the 14th of May at the Bernabéu. With no time to feel sorry for ourselves, next up is the important Champions League clash on Tuesday against NK Maribor at home.

MATCH SUMMARY

2. ATLÉTICO DE MADRID: Oblak, Vrsaljko, Savic, Lucas, Filipe Luis, Gabi, Koke, Saúl, Carrasco (Kevin Gameiro, minute 81), Vietto (Correa, minute 57) y Griezmann (Thomas, minute 71). 

0. SEVILLA FC: Sergio Rico, Mercado (Krohn-Dehli, minute 78), Carriço, Lenglet, Carole, N’Zonzi, Banega, ‘Mudo’ Vázquez, Sarabia (‘Tucu’ Correa, minute 58), Jesús Navas  y Luis Muriel (Ben Yedder, minute 67).

GOALS:  1-0, minute 47: Carrasco. 2-0, minute 69: Griezmann.

REFEREE Martínez Munuera. Yellow cards for Gabi, Carrasco, Luis Muriel, Mercado, Vrsaljko, Correa and Lenglet.