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Big Game Focus: Atletico Madrid v Sevilla

Soccer Football - La Liga Santander - Atletico Madrid v Villarreal - Wanda Metropolitano, Madrid, Spain - February 23, 2020 Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix celebrates scoring their third goal REUTERS/Susana Vera

Atletico Madrid and Sevilla meet in the midst of a tussle for a place in La Liga’s top four. Our Big Game Focus has team news and betting tips for Saturday’s match. Bet on the game here.

Atletico will face an uphill struggle to qualify for next season’s Champions League should they suffer defeat at the hands of Sevilla on Saturday.

Los Rojiblancos find themselves fifth at the start of the weekend, just two points behind their opponents. They will need their home support behind them if they are to continue their fine form at the Wanda Metropolitano. Diego Simone’s side have only tasted defeat once there in the last 13 months.

Following a spell during which they won just once in six games, Sevilla have scored three times in consecutive league games. Their last away trip ended in a big win at Getafe, a result which will give them confidence ahead of another important clash.

Which of these teams will take another step toward a top-four finish?

Betting preview

Atletico have only lost one of their last 25 home games in all competitions. They have won 18 of the other 24 games and have conceded just four times in their last ten matches at the Metropolitano. Back a Home Win at odds of 1.90.

Both teams have found the net in each of the last six meetings between this pair, with the last three all ending in a 1-1 draw. Atletico have only kept one clean sheet in their last five league games, while Sevilla scored in all of their league game since early October. You can find odds of 2.20 on Both Teams to Score.

Alternatively, no team has scored in more La Liga games this season than Sevilla (24). For comparison, Barcelona have only scored in 21 of their league games. Considering they have found the net in their last six games against Atletico, odds of 1.70 Sevilla to score Over 0.5 Goals could prove appealing.

Despite missing three matches through suspension late last year, Lucas Ocampos has nine league goals this term for Sevilla, two more than Atletico’s leading scorer Alvaro Morata. Four of those strikes have come in Sevilla’s last five games in La Liga. You can find odds of 4.30 for the Argentine to score.

Team news

Kieran Trippier returned to the Atletico starting 11 in their draw at Espanyol last weekend. Thomas Partey is suspended, so Marcos Llorente could return in his stead. Joao Felix is also looking to start after a six-week absence.

Fernando was injured in Sevilla’s win over Osasuna last Sunday and is unlikely to return before May. Nemanja Gudelj replaced him in that game, though Ever Banega could be favoured this time around.

Possible line-ups

Atletico: Oblak, Trippier, Savic, Felipe, Renan Lodi, Koke, Llorente, Saul, Correa, Morata, Joao Felix

Sevilla: Bounou, Navas, Kounde, Sergi Gomez, Escudero, Vazquez, Gudelj, Torres, Ocampos, En-Nesyri, Rony Lopes

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