Atletico Madrid moved to the top of La Liga after securing a 3-1 victory away against Sevilla at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Saturday.
The capital team scored three times in the opening 33 minutes of the match, taking full control of the contest despite playing without striker Julian Alvarez.
Alex Baena opened the scoring for the visitors in the fourth minute. South Korean international Lee Kang-In set up the Spanish forward, who fired in from a sharp angle past Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos.
Ademola Lookman doubled Atletico's lead in the 26th minute. The Nigerian international initially had minor difficulties controlling a pass from midfielder Pablo Barrios, but he recovered to unleash an unstoppable shot from 15 meters.
Baena struck again in the 33rd minute to make it 3-0. He capped off a rapid team attack by placing his shot into the net from the edge of the penalty area.
Sevilla struggled to respond until the closing stages of the first half. Their best opportunity before the interval arrived in the first minute of stoppage time, when midfielder Jon Guridi was denied by Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.
Sevilla Response and Second Half Play
Atletico thought they had scored a fourth goal six minutes after the restart. Giuliano Simeone released Baena into space, and Baena set up Lookman for a simple finish into an empty net, but the goal was disallowed after Baena was caught offside.
Sevilla responded with a dangerous attack of their own shortly after. Forward Peque received a pass inside the area, but Atletico defender Marcos Llorente intervened at the final moment to clear the danger.
The hosts maintained continuous pressure and reduced the deficit in the 66th minute. Gabriel Suazo delivered a cross from the left wing, and after Atletico defender David Hancko flicked the ball upward, Sevilla winger Miguel Sierra scored with a spectacular bicycle kick.
Atletico threatened again shortly after when substitute Arnau Ortiz carried the ball to the end line. The former Slask Wroclaw player delivered a precise cross to the head of Barrios, but Vlachodimos made a crucial save to prevent Atletico's first clear chance in over 15 minutes.
Controversy arose in the 84th minute when Sevilla defender Kike Salas went down in the penalty area after being kicked by Morten Hjulmand. Match referee Javier Alberola Rojas did not award a penalty, and the VAR official chose not to intervene during the subsequent stoppage in play.
Sevilla lost momentum after the incident and failed to threaten Oblak's goal again before full time.
Uncertainty Surrounding Julian Alvarez
The victory came amid ongoing speculation regarding Alvarez's future at Atletico Madrid. The Argentine international striker is demanding a transfer to FC Barcelona, but Metropolitano executives have shown no desire to meet his demands, given that his contract runs for four more years.
Alvarez's only appearance of the current campaign came against Villarreal, where he was booed by Atletico supporters. Sport.pl journalist Dariusz Wolowski reported that Argentine media describe Alvarez as being at the limit of his mental endurance, adding that the striker missed training officially due to stomach issues, though few believe that explanation.
Manager Diego Simeone left Alvarez out of the matchday squad entirely for the trip to Seville, opting instead for an attack featuring Lookman, Lee, and Baena.
La Liga Standings and Team Lineups
With the win, Atletico moved to the top of the La Liga table with seven points from their first three matches. The result handed Sevilla their first loss of points this season under head coach Luis Garcia.
Atletico's position at the top remains conditional, as FC Barcelona can reclaim first place when they play Rayo Vallecano on Sunday, while Real Madrid face Malaga on Monday.
Sevilla started with Vlachodimos in goal behind Iglesias, Castrin, Salas, and Suazo in defense. Agoume, Guridi, Sierra, Peque, Diaz, and Ure completed the starting XI. Giorgi Kochorashvili replaced Guridi and Chidera Ejuke replaced Diaz in the 55th minute, Isaac Romero replaced Peque in the 68th minute, and Gonzalez replaced Sierra in the 80th minute. Suazo and Romero were booked for the hosts.
Atletico lined up with Oblak in goal, behind Llorente, Marc Pubill, Hancko, and Alejandro Grimaldo. Giuliano Simeone, Barrios, Hjulmand, Lookman, Lee, and Baena started the match. Jose Maria Gimenez replaced Llorente and Ortiz replaced Lookman in the 66th minute, Koke replaced Lee in the 72nd minute, and Johnny Cardoso and Mendosa replaced Hjulmand and Baena in the 85th minute. Llorente and Pubill were booked for the visitors.
