(Football news) This Saturday brings up one of the most exciting and intense duels in LaLiga Santander, when Diego Simeone’s Atlético de Madrid host Jorge Sampaoli’s Sevilla FC. Matches between these clubs are always competitive, with two wins apiece and two draws from the past six meetings. And, both will be on the hunt for points in Matchday 24.
Atlético de Madrid have 42 points in the standings and come into this one after a 1-1 draw at the Bernabéu in the last LaLiga Santander matchday. Los Rojiblancos are looking over their shoulders a little as Real Betis are approaching them, with 40 points and ready to fight for fourth place, the last Champions League spot.
Meanwhile, Sevilla FC had a tough matchday last weekend as they lost 3-2 at home to CA Osasuna in a thrilling back-and-forth game, with that result meaning they still can’t pull clear of the relegation places. They have 25 points and Valencia CF, the team just inside the drop zone, have 23 points in the standings. The situation for both clubs therefore makes this weekend’s match not only a fascinating match-up but also a highly important one for both sides.
Simeone vs Sampaoli: An Argentine duel in the dugouts
One thing that won’t be missing from the duel at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano is intensity in the dugouts, as Diego Simeone will be on one side and Jorge Sampaoli on the other. This will be just the third meeting between the two, after each managed one win when Sampaoli coached Sevilla FC in the 2016/17 season.
Both coaches are Argentine and passionate, managing Atlético de Madrid and Sevilla FC with their unique styles. Even though neither team is at their best right now, both squads know that their coaches will be fundamental if they’re to achieve success by the end of the season.
This will be a particularly special match for the home fans, as Simeone will become the coach who has overseen the most games as boss of Los Rojiblancos. He will move on to a total of 613 games in charge of the team, ahead of Luis Aragonés with 612. That’s quite a feat for the Argentine, who arrived in 2012 and who is still in his post more than a decade later.
With Reinildo having suffered a long-term injury, Atlético de Madrid’s defensive authority will now depend on Stefan Savić, who had a great game in the Madrid Derby against Real Madrid last weekend and who will have to stop a Sevilla FC side that have scored eight goals in the last five games. Youssef En-Nesyri is on a roll and scoring big goals, although the red and white wall that has only conceded two goals in six games will be a tough test for the striker.
In attack for Los Colchoneros, Antoine Griezmann will once again be key. He provided yet another assist at the Bernabéu and now has seven assists this campaign, making him, along with Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino, the top provider in LaLiga Santander.
Six Argentine world champions across the two squads
Atlético de Madrid vs Sevilla FC is the match with the most Argentine world champions in the division. Unfortunately, not all of them will be on the pitch this weekend, as Atleti’s three champions will all be absent. Ángel Correa will miss out due to suspension after being sent off in the derby against Real Madrid, Nahuel Molina will miss out due to a yellow card accumulation suspension and Rodrigo de Paul is injured.
Sevilla FC won’t have all their players who won a World Cup in Qatar available either, as Papu Gómez is also out through injury. However, Marcos Acuña and Gonzalo Montiel will be able to represent Argentina in one of the fixtures that drums up the most interest in the South American country, due to the Argentine flavour in place across both clubs.
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