Super Eagles forward, Akor Adams, was on target as Sevilla reignited their LaLiga survival push with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over a youthful Atletico Madrid side at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan, snapping a three-game losing streak in the league.
With one eye firmly on their upcoming UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Barcelona, Diego Simeone opted for a bold approach, naming the youngest La Liga starting XI of his tenure, averaging just over 23 years and featuring three debutants.
That gamble backfired early, as one of the newcomers conceded a penalty inside the opening 10 minutes following a VAR review for a foul on Isaac Romero.
Adams stepped up confidently and converted from the spot, firing home the opener despite Juan Musso getting a firm hand to the effort.
It marked the first goal of Luis Garcia Plaza’s reign and set the tone for a determined display from the hosts.
Sevilla, clearly more desperate for points in their relegation battle, played with urgency and intent, but Atletico found a response in the 35th minute.
Javier Bonar, making his senior debut, rose to meet Julio Diaz’s cross and headed home a well-taken equaliser at the far post, a moment to remember for the 20-year-old.
However, parity did not last long. Just before the break, Sevilla captain Nemanja Gudelj restored the lead, powering in a header from Ruben Vargas’ corner in stoppage time to give the hosts a crucial advantage heading into the interval.
The second half failed to match the tempo of the first, with chances at a premium.
Sevilla nearly extended their lead just before the hour mark when Lucien Agoume picked out Romero in space, but his effort rattled the post.
Despite the drop in intensity, Sevilla held firm to secure a vital win that lifts them out of the relegation zone and up to 15th, while also ending a run of three consecutive head-to-head defeats against Atletico.
For Simeone, the result will not cause major concern, as Atletico remain comfortably within the top four despite a fifth defeat in nine league outings.
Attention now turns to their high-stakes European clash against Barcelona at the Metropolitano.
