In the final match of 2023 in La Liga, Atlético Madrid secured the third position with a narrow victory over Sevilla. Shortly after halftime, super-sub Marcos Llorente made the difference for the home team in a hard-fought match.
Embed from Getty Images
At Atlético, coach Diego Simeone decided to start Memphis Depay on the bench, and he did not come on as a substitute.
Both the Argentine and the Dutchman watched as their team dominated. Álvaro Morata had a great chance to make it 1-0 early on, but Marko Dmitrovic made the save. While Atlético remained in control, they rarely posed a serious threat. Sevilla, experiencing a completely failed season, struggled to respond.
Immediately after halftime, the resistance was broken. Llorente, who had just come on at the start of the second half, capitalized on a gift from Sergio Ramos, who inadvertently played the ball right back to him. Llorente didn't hesitate: 1-0. Another substitute for Simeone, later in the second half, also had an immediate impact. However, this time it didn't please the Argentine.
Caglar Söyüncü came on as a substitute, and the center-back received a red card three minutes later for a reckless challenge on the Achilles tendon of Lucas Ocampos. Simeone hastily organized a defensive blockade, and the previously cautious Sevilla awkwardly emerged from their shell. Football became a rarity, and in the final stages, the match derailed. The 21 remaining players filled the time with kicking, provoking, and antagonizing each other.
The 1-0 scoreline remained unchanged. Atlético climbs above Barcelona to the third position, while Sevilla concludes 2023 with a shameful ranking: fifteenth. La Liga now takes a Christmas break and resumes on January 2nd. One day later, there's an immediate blockbuster: Atlético visits second-placed Girona. Sevilla plays at home against Athletic Bilbao on January 4th.
