Diego Simeone Breaks Club Record in Thrilling Atletico Victory

History was made at the Civitas Metropolitano as Atletico Madrid thumped Sevilla 6-1.

Atleti coach Diego Simeone was honored before the game started. It is a club record 613 games in charge for the gaffer. He has been at the club since December 2011 and surpassed previous record holder Luis Aragonés. 

Diego Simeone passes Luis Aragonés’ record as the coach with the most matches in Atletico history with 613 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/qdM1fvLecY

— B/R Football (@brfootball) March 4, 2023

End-to-End Football

The first goal would come in the 23rd minute for the hosts after Memphis Depay scored from a beautiful through ball by Antoine Griezmann. After struggling in the first half of the season, the Frenchman has continued his great World Cup form in his new playmaking position. He has 3 goals and 5 assists since the restart.

Memphis went on to score his second in the match after a classic Atletico Madrid counterattack. As the Sevilla defense tracked back, the players completely avoided the striker. This let him set up a wonderful strike that was drilled into the top right corner in the 26th minute. 

WHAT A STRIKE FROM DEPAY 🔥

A brace in his first start for Atleti 👏 pic.twitter.com/FBKc1fzrEX

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 4, 2023

Sevilla’s sloppy passing in the midfield led to these two goals. Marcos Acuña had the best pass of the match for the visitors in the 39th minute after catching the opposition’s defense sleeping. The left-back sent a beautiful over-the-top through ball for Pape Gueye. While saving the ball from going out of play, Gueye sent a beautiful cross right onto the left foot of Youssef En-Nesyri. All the Moroccan had to do was guide it into the back of the net from 3 yards out.

Absolute Domination

After getting one goal back before the end of the first 45 minutes of play, Sevilla would crumble in the second half. 

Griezmann would score to make it 3-1 for the hosts in the 53rd minute. He was given too much space and curled a shot from 25 yards out that nestled into the top left corner. Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou got a hand to it, but it wasn’t enough to stop the shot. 

GRIEZMANN FROM DISTANCE 😱 pic.twitter.com/N21z33J7yq

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 4, 2023

Spanish winger Suso had a chance to make it 3-2 for Sevilla in the 60th minute but sailed the ball over the crossbar and into the stands. This chance capped off a poor performance by the player who gave the ball away earlier in the match which led to the opening goal of the game. He was later subbed off in the 68th minute. 

Atleti winger Yannick Carrasco made the most of his chance and scored in the 69th minute making it 4-1. Sevilla refused to drop back all game and were punished by a deadly counter-attacking team. 

The visitors would go on to earn a penalty after Gueye was clipped from behind by Marcos Llorente in the penalty box. Captain Ivan Rakitić stepped up to take the penalty but hit the post. All possible belief of a comeback was sucked right out of the souls of the Sevilla players.

Madrid Seal the Deal

Alvaro Morata would make it 5-1 with 14 minutes to go after receiving a spectacular over-the-top through ball from Griezmann. Bounou did well to save the striker’s first shot, but the ball rebounded straight back into the path of Morata. He dribbled goalwards and thumped it in from one yard out. 

Bad turns to worse for Sevilla when Gueye was sent off in the 80th minute after receiving his second yellow card of the match. He will now miss an important game against Almería next Sunday as his team sits only one point away from the relegation zone. 

To put the cherry on top, Morata scored his second goal of the match in added time to make it 6-1. This was a great day for Simeone on his record-setting night, but an embarrassment for Sevilla. 

What’s Next?

Madrid play Girona away on Monday, March 13. They hope to add to this win as they continue to fight for a Champions League spot for next season.

The visitors play the first leg of their Europa League round of 16 cup tie against Turkish giants Fenerbahçe this Thursday at 3 p.m. Head coach Jorge Sampaoli has a large task ahead of him to get his team ready for this tough draw.