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La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid once again proved their title as they beat Sevilla in form 2-0 at home on Tuesday to get four points clear at the top of the table.
Atletico got off to a perfect start when Angel Correa received a pass from right-back Kieran Trippier’s return and took Sevilla by surprise with a shot that bounced off the near post to give them the lead in the 17th minute.
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Midfielder Saul Niguez effectively clinched the victory with a resounding effort from the edge of the box in the 76th to score his first goal of the season and doom Sevilla to a first defeat in 10 games in all competitions.
The win took Atletico to 41 points after 16 games – their most since they collected 43 in the same season of their 2013-14 season – four ahead of second-placed Real Madrid, who have. played 18.
“We knew we would have to suffer at times in the game but it didn’t give us too much danger, they had a lot of possession but couldn’t hurt us,” said goalscorer Correa.
“We are preparing every game to win it and that’s what we are trying to do. We knew Sevilla would be a tough opponent, they are having a great season so I’m very happy that we managed to win.”
Atletico had rested this weekend as their game with Athletic Bilbao was postponed due to a snowstorm in the Spanish capital, although the icy conditions also disrupted their training schedule.
The home side welcomed Trippier for the first time since December 23 after his 10 week suspension for breaking England betting rules was suspended pending an appeal and the England defender proved his worth by playing a great role in both purposes.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone opted to start € 126m striker Joao Felix on the bench for the second game in a row in favor of Correa and the Argentine repaid his faith with a shot enterprising from the edge of the box, surprising Seville goalkeeper Bono.
Sevilla had won seven of their previous nine matches and hadn’t made it easier for Simeone’s side, shooting 13 shots on goal against Atletico’s five but only managing to work the goalkeeper twice. Atletico, Jan Oblak.
They missed a golden chance to level when Argentina’s Marcos Acuna missed the rebound goal with Oblak on the ground, while forward Youssef En-Nesyri also squandered a good opportunity late in the second half.
Sevilla goalkeeper Bono made an impressive save to prevent Luis Suarez from doubling Atletico’s lead and even after Saul scored the second, the visitors continued to seek a goal until the final whistle.
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