La Liga Preview: The Battle for Second is a Feisty Affair

Sevilla vs Atletico Madrid

The race at the top of the Spanish top flight is still neck-and-neck as we approach the season’s midpoint. While Barcelona still hold the league’s summit, a number of results could see a club like Deportivo Alaves ending up at the top. Adding the uncertainty of the winter transfer window makes this is an exciting time for sports fans and punters who are fascinated with La Liga football.

While there are plenty of interesting fixtures to look forward to in the coming weekend, none matches the magnitude and hype the Sevilla-Atletico Madrid match can bring.

Both of these clubs are chasing after the much-coveted peak of the top flight, and a win here could see them start the first weeks of the year at the top. Both Diego Simeone and Pablo Manchin are looking to spark a run to close the gap between themselves and stopping their closest rivals with this match.

Which side will emerge victorious at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and put some added pressure on Barca? Find out as the trusted punters of SBOBET dissect this big fixture.

Talking Points

Can Atleti’s Dominant Days Continue?

Simeone’s Los Colchoneros are one of the most impressive teams in La Liga to date. The fact that Barcelona are only ahead of them by three points is something to write home about this Madrid team’s strengths more than it is about the league leaders’ shortcomings.

One of the most obvious reasons for Atletico’s success has always been their stalwart defence. Their backline, led by Diego Godin, Lucas Hernandez and Filipe Luis, has helped them lose only one of their last seventeen games.

Moreover, Simeone is blessed to have a person such as Jan Oblak defending his team’s goalmouth. The Slovenian stopper was named best goalkeeper by French paper L’Equipe as he has only conceded 12 goals in seventeen appearances. His saves have increased the Rojiblancos‘ La Liga 2019 odds and will continue to influence the results of this match.

Finally, they have supreme attacking talent in Antoine Griezmann. The 2018 World Cup winner has always scored goals for Atletico, and his seven-goal tally proves that things won’t be changing any time soon. He always steps up at the biggest moments — his goal against Espanyol is a fine example — to secure the points for his team.

Andre Silva and Antoine Griezmann look to close the gap on leaders Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday — Andre Silva and Antoine Griezmann were both expected to score this weekend

Sevilla Attempt to Reclaim Second

Los Hispalenses weren’t always sitting in third place. There was a point during the season when Sevilla were the red-and-white club who were at Barcelona’s throats, but a couple of results haven’t gone their way.

Their losses to Barcelona, Getafe and Real Betis robbed them of points that could have helped them at the top. Frustrating draws against squads like Valencia also didn’t help their case much. Putting all of those into consideration, there’s no wonder why they are situated just below Atletico.

However, the players are more than effective on the attacking end of the pitch. They have three players who have scored more than five goals in Wissam Ben Yedder, Andre Silva and Pablo Sarabia. I expect these three to be in full force tomorrow and make Oblak work for his clean sheet.

Moreover, Sevilla’s moves in the January window show that they are far from satisfied with the status quo. Their plans of bringing Alvaro Morata back to Spain after losing Luis Muriel is the biggest La Liga 2019 transfer news of the day thus far. Bringing in the former Real Madrid starlet would be a boon for their already-impressive attack.

Manchin and the fans would have to make do with what they have until the deal is completed, though. For now, they must ensure that Atletico fail to score while their attack must break down the indomitable Atletico defence.

History

The two Spanish giants have faced each other at least 49 times professionally. There isn’t much separating the two clubs as their head-to-head results are split even. Both teams have won 17 games each and drew the other 15.

Both sides have been undefeated when it comes to their last six matches in all competitions. However, the hosts have drawn one more match than their guests, the latest being their 1-1 draw against Leganes during the Christmas weekend.

Betting Tip

	Sevilla vs Atletico Madrid	Atletico Madrid 1X2 @ 2.66
	January 05, 23:15(GMT+8)

A lot of the La Liga 2019 odds on various bookies point to this being a close fight. Both teams haven’t lost in a while and are keeping up with Barcelona at the top of the standings. It wouldn’t be weird to see both sides split the points to start the year.

However, I don’t think Griezmann and company would allow for that to happen. I believe that Madrid have a slight advantage over the oldest club in Spanish football in terms of personnel. Moreover, Atletico’s one-sided stomp of Sevilla at the Pizjuan last season convinces me that Atletico will be able to win away from home.

If you want to win more, the Total Goals and the Over-Under markets offer the best value. If you just want a quick win, however, the 1X2 market is the way to go.