6-1: OUTCLASSED IN THE METROPOLITANO

Sevilla FC's defeat at the Metropolitano was a painful one and a tough night for them, as their situation in the league continues to get more complicated after being thrashed by an Atlético de Madrid side who showed all the attacking flair that Sampaoli's men lacked. To make matters worse, they were not a forceful side at the back either, and although En-Nesyri gave them hope at half-time, Depay's brace was completed in the second half by goals from Griezmann, Carrasco and Morata's brace. Even Rakitic missed from ten yards and Gueye picked up a double yellow that will see him join the list of absentees for next Sunday's home clash with UD Almeria.

It was not a good start to the game for Sevilla and it took just a couple of minutes to confirm this. That was how long it took Depay to receive a through ball and find himself one-on-one with Bono, who came out reflexively to close down the Dutchman and send his shot out for a corner. Sampaoli's side were waiting in behind with their lines together and trying to get a chance to break forward, as En-Nesyri did on the right after seven minutes. However, his half-cued shot failed to find the target or any of the team-mates accompanying the Moroccan's run. After that first exchange of strikes, Simeone's men began to take control of possession and pinned the Sevilla players back in their own half. But that was not how they managed to open the scoring, but with quick transitions taking advantage of unforced errors from Sevilla.

Two almost consecutive mistakes allowed Atlético to take the lead on the half-hour mark.

Midway through the first half, a bad pass in midfield allowed the hosts to steal the ball, which in just three touches left Depay on his own, who once again in front of Bono, this time had a clear shot and scored into an empty net to make it 1-0. And in a similar move, but with the Sevilla backline less unguarded, four minutes later, Depay's own shot from the edge of the area went into the top left corner of Bono's goal. The game was getting very close for the home side against a Sevilla side who could not find their form, but who raised their heads and improved in the last quarter of an hour of the first half. That step forward was rewarded with a goal, in a good inside pass from the left for Gueye, who despite being hurt by the bounce, managed to bring it down and assist a golden ball to En-Nesyri, who beat his marker to make it 2-1 at half-time.

It all went the other way in a second half in which Atlético completed their rout.

The second began with no changes, but the Sevillistas came out well-positioned and tried to trouble Atlético in order to level the score. Acuña tried, albeit without finishing the play, from the left in an attack in which they ended up closing him down. And before there was time to continue pushing, Griezmann pulled the third out of his sleeve to put further the distance between the two sides. It was a long ball to the Frenchman, who headed the ball back to the back post and again received, wide but all alone. With a huge shot he tried his luck against Bono, who again looked at the top corner without being able to do anything about it. The problem was that they weren't anywhere near as lethal at the other end, and this was demonstrated just after the hour mark, when Suso failed to hit the target in front of Oblak after a good steal by Ocampos in the opposition area.

Sampaoli reshuffled the bench to bring on Óliver for Suso, but another mistake at the back again penalised Sevilla with a ball to Carrasco at the far post, who beat Bono completely unmarked. Gueye was awarded a penalty shortly afterwards for a clear trip by Llorente, but Rakitic, after deceiving Oblak, sent the ball against the post. There was still more bad news to come. Morata scored the fifth in an empty net after a rebound from a save by Bono, and to make matters worse, Gueye was shown a second yellow card with ten minutes to go and will also be out against Almería. A more than negative tally after a match that continues to bring the relegation zone closer before facing the first leg of the Europa League round of 16 this Thursday against Fenerbahçe in Nervión.