Atletico Madrid secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán stadium on Saturday, August 29th. A blistering first-half display, spearheaded by a superb Álex Baena, decided this LaLiga EA Sports matchday three fixture within the opening half-hour.
As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Diego Simeone's team came out with aggressive intent from the first whistle. Baena opened the scoring in just the 4th minute, setting the tone for a dominant period. High pressure and quick transitions were key. Ademola Lookman, the only available first-team striker for the match, doubled the lead in the 26th minute. And before halftime, Baena completed his personal brace in the 33rd minute for a stunning 0-3 lead.
How did Álex Baena perform?
Álex Baena was undoubtedly the man of the match. The midfielder not only scored two decisive goals but was the creative hub for most of Atletico's dangerous moves. Chema G. Fuente of Mundo Deportivo highlighted his form: "El Atlético de Madrid arrasó al Sevilla de la mano un excelso Álex Baena, que sigue en ese estado de gracia que alcanzó en el pasado Mundial". His performance suggests a clear willingness to take on a leadership role within the team, especially in a context where it has been reported that other players, like Julián Álvarez, did not want to be the franchise star. Baena linked up effectively with Kang-In Lee and Marcos Llorente, who received a yellow card in the second half.
What happened after halftime?
Sevilla, who came into the match with two wins from their opening two games, reacted after the break. Manager Luis García Plaza made changes and his team found a consolation goal through Miguel Sierra in the 66th minute. They even saw a Lookman goal disallowed for offside early in the second period. After scoring, the Andalusian side pressed with more intensity, forcing Jan Oblak into several important saves. Simeone responded with tactical substitutions, bringing on Koke, José Giménez and Arnau Martínez to secure the result. The match ended with several yellow cards for Sevilla players, reflecting the home side's frustration.
What is Atletico's current situation?
This victory comes at an important time for the red-and-white team. Before this match, Atletico were sixth in LaLiga with 4 points, from one win, one draw and zero losses in their first two games. Their recent form was DW. With this win, they add three more points and improve their goal difference, which before the match stood at +2 (4 goals for, 2 against). They now sit three points behind the surprising leader, Alaves. The squad, however, is navigating this positive moment with several significant absences, including Thomas Lemar, Alexander Sørloth and Morten Hjulmand, whose progress can be tracked on our injuries page.
What's next for Simeone's team?
The schedule doesn't stop. Atletico Madrid's next challenge is a trip to San Mamés to face Athletic Club on Saturday, September 5th. The Basque side, interestingly, are in 19th place in the table ahead of that matchday. Simeone will have to manage a squad with sensitive absences, but with morale sky-high after a display of character and efficiency like the one seen in Sevilla. Fans can check the full schedule in our fixtures section and the evolution in the standings after each round. The collective performance, with Baena as the beacon, seems to have found a good rhythm for the weeks ahead.
