Sevilla have Atletico Madrid everything that could handle for 70 minutes but they faded late and conceded twice as Los Colchoneros pulled away for a 3-1 victory at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium.
Sevilla vs. Atletico Madrid: Final score 1-3, Diego Costa’s brace leads Los Colchoneros to victory
Diego Costa scored with 10 minutes left to push Atletico Madrid ahead of Sevilla, earning Los Colchoneros a season opening three points on the road.
After a fairly pedestrian opening 20 minutes, Sevilla nearly took the lead after Koke sent an excellent ball into the box that was headed off the crossbar by Bacca. Thibaut Courtois was helpless on the play after his defense let him down as Miranda completely lost Bacca.
Atletico responded two minutes later, but were unable to find the back of the net later as David Villa's attempt from 20-yards out was parried away by Beto.
Ten minutes before the halftime break Atletico Madrid broke through on a set piece. Sevilla committed the cardinal sin of leaving Diego Costa unmarked at the far past and the prolific striker right footed a deflected Koke corner kick past Beto.
The lead lasted all of three minutes as Sevilla answered right back. Diego Perotti got space 30-yards away from goal and sent a missile on frame that a diving Courtois got his fingers on, but was unable to stop from finding the top corner.
Sevilla were the stronger side through the first 15 minutes of the second half but failed to capitalize on several chances. Marko Marin and Bacca both had chances but they either just missed or were denied by Courtois.
With 15 minutes left to play, Atletico had more of the ball but seemed short on ideas in the attacking third and it paid off in the 79th minute.
Costa got loose on the right side and out muscled a Sevilla defender at he raced into the box. As Beto gambled towards the near post hoping that’s where Costa would shoot, the striker sent the ball to the left of the keeper and inside the far post to give Atletico a 2-1 lead.
Cristian Rodriguez sealed the victory in stoppage time making a tremndous run down the right wing and into the Sevilla area before freezing Diego Godín and beating Beto to make it 3-1.
It wasn’t a bad performance by Sevilla and there are still plenty of positives for them to take away from the game. They simply weren’t strong enough and faded in the final minutes against a stronger Atletico team.
Sevilla: Beto; Fazio, Alberto, Pareja (Kondogbia 45’); Andujar; Rakitic, Iborra (Israel 63’); Marin, Perotti, Machin; Bacca (73’).
Goals: Perotti (37’)
Atletico Madrid: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godín, Luis; Koke (Rodriguez 82’), Gabi, Mario Suarez, Arda Turan (Oliver 59’); Diego Costa, David Villa (Leo 70’).
Goals: Costa (35’, 79’), Rodriguez (90’)
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