Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid could receive €7 million boost with a win against Sevilla tonight
A lot will be at stake when Atletico Madrid host Sevilla in the penultimate game of the 2021-22 La Liga season. To define ‘a lot’, a prize pool of €7 million is there for Atletico to grab as it is the difference between finishing third and fourth in the competition, reports MARCA.
Mathematically, Atletico Madrid have qualified for next season’s UEFA Champions League, having accumulated 67 points in 36 league matches. Sevilla, on the other hand, still have a lot to play for.
Interestingly enough, however, even a point on Sunday would assure the Nervionenses a place in Europe’s top tier competition, making today’s encounter all the more important.
Now, €7 million may not really sound like much, at least in the inflated football market, but an amount as such represents a massive coup for Atletico and Sevilla who are up against the giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid.
What’s in the offering?
Even after all the fights throughout the season, Sevilla are pretty much dependent on Real Betis’ results. The Beticos are a mere five points away from Julen Lopetegui’s team and any sip-up from the latter on Sunday will mostly cut down the deficit to two points.
How about the match?
Atletico Madrid, or personally for Diego Simeone, there is fear of finishing below the podium places for the first time in the latter’s nine full seasons. This mainly because his team does not really have a great record against Sevilla.
Between October 2016 to the date of writing, Atletico have played as many as eight matches against Sevilla, winning just once while losing thrice.
Furthermore, the match will also mark the final home appearance of a certain Luis Suarez, who MARCA believes will start alongside Antoine Griezmann. On the other hand, the likes of Renan Lodi, Thomas Lemar and Sime Vrsaljko will miss for respective reasons.
For Atletico fans, and even for the management for that matter, reaching those €7 million will probably change plenty of things for the next season.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid midfielder on the derby against Real Madrid: “Very difficult to beat them”
Following a 1-1 draw in their Champions League opener against Lazio, Atletico Madrid will shift all their attention to La Liga, as they brace themselves for the derby against Real Madrid this weekend.
Heading into this game, Atleti midfielder Marcos Llorente spoke about Real Madrid’s quality and Atletico Madrid’s chances of squeezing all three points from this iconic derby.
Llorente on Madrid derby
“The sensations are good. The team is very good, the other day we played a great game despite ending up drawing. I really think that the team did a great job that must be maintained for this match,” Llorente said in an interview with Diario AS.
When asked whether or not Real Madrid being tagged as favourites could aid Atleti, the midfielder said, “Honestly, it neither motivates me nor demotivates me. We simply have to do what we work on during the week, what the coach asks of us.”
Llorente stressed the importance of the game, adding, “It is a great rival we have in front of us, they are having a very good start to the season and that motivates me and everyone to try to play a good game.”
“Real Madrid is a great club, they have great players and it is very difficult to beat them. I think we have competed, we have also achieved several draws, but in the end, either you go out one hundred percent and do things very, very well or it is difficult to beat them,” he added.
A former member of the Real Madrid youth academy, Llorente joined Atletico Madrid in 2019. Since then, he has racked up over 150 competitive appearances for Los Colchoneros.
Llorente, though, said he feels no sense of vindication when he performs well against his former team.
“No. In the end, it’s been many years since I left there and I’m at Atlético. Perhaps in the first years, those types of feelings and sensations can arise, but today they no longer do,” he said.
Llorente on Vinicius, Koke & Bellingham
The Atletico Madrid star went on to talk about other aspects of the game, including the fact that his team had one less player every time they faced Real Madrid last season.
“I have zero worries. These are things that are not in our remit, that escape our hands. We play football, the referees referee and those who have to decide decide,” he said.
Llorente, in fact, said that the return of Koke could be a real boost for Atleti. “It is always good that Koke is with us, both on the field and in the day-to-day life of the game,” he said.
“Beyond the grass. The support he gives, the advice he gives us, his experience. it is always important to have him and it is great news that he is already training with us,” he added.
Talking about the absence of Vinicius Junior and the form of Jude Bellingham, Llorente said, “Well, you have to be careful with everyone. All Real Madrid players are very good and can make a difference at any moment of the game. Bellingham is having a great start and we have to take that into account and be very focused.”
Finally, Marcos Llorente put out a message for all the Atletico Madrid fans, claiming their support ahead of this crucial encounter this weekend.
“It will be a full house as always. We don’t have to tell them anything, they know the importance of this match for Atlético, we know that they never fail, they are always supporting us and we count on them,” he said.
