Simeone addressed the situation surrounding the Argentina international post-match, describing him as an extraordinary player and emphasizing the club's commitment to supporting him through his current personal process. In his absence, the attacking partnership of Lee Kang-in and
Clinical Finishing Secures Atletico Victory
The visitors wasted no time asserting their authority, breaking the deadlock in the fourth minute. A precise through ball from summer signing Lee Kang-in found Baena, who clinically fired a low shot into the net. The momentum continued in the 26th minute when Ademola Lookman doubled the lead, catching Sevilla goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos off guard with a clever finish at the near post.
Baena completed his brace in the 33rd minute, extending the lead to 3-0. After receiving a pass from Marcos Llorente, the Spanish World Cup winner struck a powerful effort from outside the penalty area into the bottom corner. While Sevilla managed to reduce the deficit in the second half through a Miguel Sierra volley, they were unable to threaten a genuine comeback. Reflecting on his performance, Baena noted that his confidence remains high following his success at the World Cup and expressed his desire to maintain his current form.
Real Betis Stumble Against Levante
Elsewhere in La Liga, Real Betis saw their perfect start to the campaign come to an end in a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Levante. Despite entering the match with the opportunity to claim the top spot in the league, Manuel Pellegrini’s side struggled to contain a motivated Levante attack.
Adrian de la Fuente opened the scoring for the hosts with a header from a corner in the 24th minute, though Marc Bartra responded for Betis shortly after with a strike from the edge of the box. The match intensified during first-half stoppage time, with Enzo Bardeli scoring a spectacular long-range chip from over 40 yards to restore Levante's lead. Although Rodrigo Riquelme equalized for the visitors before the interval, Levante dominated the second half. A brace from Roger Brugue and a late header from Jon Ander Olasagasti secured the victory for the home side. In other action, Real Sociedad recorded their first points of the season with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol.
