Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Julian Alvarez will not feature for Atletico Madrid against Sevilla, though Diego Simeone says the stance on the striker’s potential exit remains unchanged.
Alvarez was jeered by Atletico fans last week, after a 2-2 home draw with Villarreal.
The Argentina international has made it clear he wants to leave Atletico, with Barcelona having had multiple offers rejected.
This week, Atletico released a statement insisting Alvarez would not be sold to Barca, while Arsenal are also said to be interested in the former Manchester City attacker.
Alvarez has not trained for the past three days and will not be included in Atletico’s travelling party to Seville.
However, Simeone says there has been no change when it comes to a potential transfer progressing.
“My stance remains the same,” Simeone said. “From a sporting perspective, I hope to help him in the best possible way so that he continues to be the vital player he is for us. Obviously, Julian won’t be available tomorrow.
“Once Julian returns to train with us, we will give him everything we’ve always given him to make him feel, as he has felt, important, as he is to this team.
“I think the club was very firm and clear in everything they explained [regarding Alvarez’s situation] and everything that is going to happen.”
Simeone, however, does not think the Alvarez saga has disrupted his team.
“Honestly, no,” he said. “I don’t see that. The players are working very well. We’ve had good games against Malaga and Villarreal. They are focused on having a good game tomorrow.
“The team is trying to find, from a collective effort, solutions that will allow us to score.”
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) August 28, 2026
Romero, who scored and assisted in a LaLiga game for the first time (one goal and one assist in Sevilla’s 3-1 win over Athletic Club), has netted two goals in five LaLiga appearances against Atletico, his joint-most against a single opponent in the competition (also two against Girona).
In LaLiga, Koke has scored more goals (seven) and been involved in more goals (13) against Sevilla than any other team..
Koke has now equalled Manolo Sanchis (Real Madrid), Jose Angel Iribar (Athletic) and Paco Gento (Real Madrid) as the player with the joint-second-most seasons in LaLiga at the same club (18), only surpassed by Piru Gainza (19 with Athletic).
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLETICO MADRID WIN
After picking up points in eight of his first nine LaLiga visits to Sevilla (W4 D4 L1), Simeone has lost four of his last six (W2) – he has not suffered more away defeats against any other opponent in the competition since 2020-21 (four, level with Barcelona and Athletic).
However, Opta’s model is backing Atletico to take the points on Saturday.
That is despite Atletico having lost five of their last eight away games in LaLiga (W3) – they suffered a total of eight away defeats in the 2025-26 LaLiga season, equalling their highest record in a full campaign in the competition under Simeone (also eight in 2023-24).
Sevilla have won their first two LaLiga matches of the 2026-27 season. They have only started a league campaign with three consecutive victories on one occasion in the 21st century (in 2006-07).
These teams have gone eight LaLiga meetings without a draw (six wins for Atletico and two for Sevilla), their longest run without sharing the points in the competition since a 10-game streak between March 2006 and October 2010 (four wins for Atletico and six for Sevilla).
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