Atletico Madrid cruised to a 2-0 win over a toothless Sevilla on Saturday in La Liga, increasing the pressure on Julen Lopetegui.Marcos Llorente and Alvaro Morata’s goals took Atletico provisionally up to sixth, while leaving the hosts 16th, just a point above the relegation zone.With only one win from seven league games Sevilla supporters showed their feelings at full-time, with a chorus of jeers and whistles for their own team at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan.”Sevilla is a winning team, which has to win, there’s great demand for us to do that, so the fans being unhappy makes sense,” Sevilla goalkeeper Bono told DAZN.”Now we have to turn the situation around as quickly as possible. We have to give more, starting from the goalkeeper through to the last player (on the pitch). There’s no other way.”Atletico coach Diego Simeone picked a muscular starting side, with four central midfielders comprising the core, and it paid dividends as his team dominated.Fresh from firing Spain into the Nations League final four, Morata should have moved Atletico ahead but launched an effort over the crossbar when Koke found him in space.Marcos Llorente made no such mistake in the 29th minute, receiving the ball from Atletico’s captain on the edge of the area, driving forward and drilling it into the far corner, beyond the reach of Bono.The ball control and the shot… 😮💨 Incredible goal from Marcos Llorente to give Atletico Madrid the lead over Sevilla! pic.twitter.com/JkTHyr0uEb— Reyi (@Reinaldodcg9) October 1, 2022 Morata sent another big chance over the crossbar and Llorente fired into the side netting as Simeone’s side found their groove.With Atletico dominant, some swathes of Sevilla support began to jeer their struggling side and beleaguered coach, with more joining in at the half-time whistle.The second half did not improve their mood and, at the third time of asking, Morata delivered. Capitalising on an error from Jose Carmona, forced by the energetic Matheus Cunha, Morata lofted the ball over Bono to double Atletico’s advantage before the hour.Llorente y Morata ponen a Lopetegui contra las cuerdas pic.twitter.com/ICmpacjDc6— NotiSports (@NotiSportsWorld) October 1, 2022 The Moroccan goalkeeper kept the scoreline respectable, tipping Cunha’s strike wide after a razor-sharp counter-attack, and then brilliantly denied substitute Antoine Griezmann at the near post.Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak was called into action with 15 minutes remaining, diving full-length to palm Youssef En-Nesyri’s header away.It was the one scare the Slovenian had during the game and the comfortable win will settle Atletico nerves after their derby defeat by Real Madrid before the international break.”The team was a team again, we worked all together,” Simeone told DAZN. “We knew where we had to defend, when we had to press, and like that, it’s much easier. When it works, it’s good to watch them play as a team.”Atletico skipper Koke surpassed Adelardo, who retired in 1976, as the player with most appearances for the club, reaching 554 games.”He’s been an exemplary captain for many years,” added Simeone of the Spanish midfielder. “I have always valued how he knew what he had to say, to whom, where and when. As a player he’s given us structure, strength and hard work.”LA LIGA – ROUND 7FridayAthletic Club – Almeria 4-0 (2-0)/Inaki Williams 10, Sanccet 17, Nico Williams 62, Vesga 84 pen/SaturdayCadiz – Villareal 0-0Getafe – Valladolid 2-3 (2-2)/Mayoral 29, Suzarez 31 – Leon 20 pen, 37, Plano 49/Sevilla – Atl.Madrid 0-2 (0-1)/Llorente 29, Morata 57/Mallorca – Barcelona 0-1 (0-1)/Lewandowski 20/Sunday15:00: (2.78) Espanyol (3.10) Valencia (2.75)17:15: (2.60) Celta (3.25) Betis (2.95)19:30: (3.35) Girona (3.20) Sociedad (2.45)22:00: (1.35) Real Madrid (5.50) Osasuna (9.50)Monday22:00: (1.84) Rayo Vallecano (3.60) Elche (5.20)***odds are subject to change***
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