Griezmann poised to make history as Atlético take on Sevilla in LaLiga – Into the Calderon
Atlético de Madrid on Saturday welcome struggling Sevilla to the Cívitas Metropolitano, hoping to end calendar year 2023 with a win to halt its recent slump.
December has not been a kind month to Atlético Madrid (11-2-4, 35 points). Los Rojiblancos have fallen into a tie for fourth place in LaLiga with red-hot Athletic Club after a stretch of one win from four in the league, including losses to Athletic and FC Barcelona prior to a draw (with 10 men) against Getafe on Tuesday.
That makes this game in hand against Quique Sánchez Flores and Sevilla (3-7-7, 16 points) even more important, as Atlético with a victory would move level on points with Barcelona and within seven points of co-leaders Real Madrid and Girona — Atleti’s next opponent in LaLiga following the holiday break. Sevilla have never won in the Metropolitano, but are coming off a badly-needed 3-0 victory against relegation-threatened rivals Granada on Tuesday.
“Since the beginning of the season, there has been the same responsibility,” head coach Diego Simeone told the media on Friday. “We’re going to measure ourselves against a team that was very solid in Granada, with experienced players and a coach who knows Atlético.”
Of course, there is more at stake on Saturday than consolidation of a top-four spot with more than half the season still to come. Antoine Griezmann tied Luis Aragonés as Atlético’s all-time top scorer on Tuesday, and he will claim the record for himself with another goal on Saturday. The Frenchman has nine goals from 26 games against Sevilla in his career, and he scored a brace against this opponent in a 6-1 win back in March.
| Antoine Griezmann is at his best goal tally of his career at this stage of the season. He has already matched the 16 goals he scored last season.
23-24: 16
22-23: 6
21-22: 7
20-21: 5
19-20: 7
18-19: 10
17-18: 7
16-17: 9
15-16: 12
14-15: 9
13-14: 12
12-13: 4
11-12: 2
10-11:… pic.twitter.com/5FqeOPX3xV— Atletico Universe (@atletiuniverse) December 20, 2023
In team news, José Giménez returned to training on Friday and is expected to start for a defense that missed his leadership in the frantic 3-3 draw with Getafe. Rodrigo Riquelme gave away an unfortunate penalty at the end of Tuesday’s game, but he is expected to keep his place in the 11 and share the left-hand side with Samuel Lino again. Rodrigo de Paul debuted a new hairstyle at Friday’s training session and should complete the midfield trio alongside Koke — who can negotiate with any club in 10 days as a pending free agent.
“De Paul is very important for us,” Simeone said. “All the growth that he presents us will surely be good, first for him and then in creating a stronger team.”
Date Dec. 23, 2023
Location Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano, Madrid
Kickoff time 7:15 a.m. PT
Available TV/streaming ESPN+ (United States), DAZN LaLiga (Spain), LaLiga TV (United Kingdom)
