Point to stay at the top
Atletico Madrid and Sevilla drew the first match of the second round. Villa’s goal gave the lead to Atletico but Rakitic's penalty equalized. A points see’s Simeone’s men stay as co-leaders.
ATLETICO 1-1 SEVILLA
Atletico: Courtois, Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe, Gabi, Koke (Sosa, 88), Arda, Raul Garcia, David Villa (Cristian Rodriguez, 81) and Diego Costa.
Sevilla: Beto, Navarro, Fazio, Carriço, Nico Pareja (Gameiro, 46'), Alberto, Iborra, Coke, Vitolo (Marin, 64'), Rakitic, Bacca (Reyes, 84')
Goals:
1-0 18 Min David Villa
1-1 . 72 Min Rakitic (pen)
Referee: Hernández Hernández
The roared of the Vicente Calderon was enthusiastic for the first match of the second round and it was a chance to go clear at the top after Barcelona's draw at Levante. Our warriors came out on to the pitch and quickly attacked the goal defended by Beto. Sevilla arrived at the red and white coliseum after winning five of their last seven games and were full of confidence.
Diego Costa was the first to try his luck with a powerful header assisted by Gabi. Emery’s side began to suffer in the Calderón as Juanfran and Filipe attacked from deep. The dominance lead to more opportunities. Diego Costa, a genius, and Gabi with a shot from outside the box couldn’t get on the scoreboard. But ot didn’t take long for the opener to come, David Villa latched on to a clearance on the penalty spot and fired past Beto to make it 1-0.
The home continued with the same fluidity. Sevilla found no answers to the dominance of Simeone’s side and only Iborra with a loose head tried to beat Courtois who saved with ease. Arda, Villa and Koke were tireless on the wings. Almost unwittingly, the Sevilla team had a good chance just before the break in a messy play in the Athetico area but nothing came of it and the first half drew to a close with Atleti in the lead.
The match was balanced at the start of the second half, Sevilla began to control the game and look for an equalizer. Our titans, intelligent and well positioned, tried to attack with and Raul Garcia was the first to try to beat Beto with a distant shot with plenty of power. The Andalusians wanted their goal, but the Atleti defense seemed impenetrable. Diego Costa who moved with catlike agility in every attack, tried to connect an acrobatic shot but his shot was parried out by Fazio.
The Seville team upped the pressure with the passage of minutes and the red and white ball found it difficult to get out. From an innocuous attack, Hernández Hernández gave a more than dubious penalty that Rakitic put away to draw level. Angered by this, our players move forward and attacks began on the Sevilla area but the goal did not arrive.
Diego Pablo Simeone went for the Seville goal where the visitor sat back in their own area. The meeting turned and Atletico, boosted by the expulsion of Alberto Moreno, tried by all means to get back in front, however, the end of the meeting came and the score was a draw leaving Atletico with 51 points and as co-leaders.
