Although Atletico Madrid caused an upset in the Copa del Rey, it did not have much impact on their league. So far, they are the only remaining team unbeaten in the league, winning nineteen of their twenty-four rounds and drawing just five. The win rate is close to 80%.

Simeone, however, is particularly interested in the two-game game at the end of February. Before meeting Barcelona, Atletico must ensure that the gap in the table is not further widened, and the desperate fight at Camp Nou will only make sense.

At the same time, the chasing soldiers behind him were also ferocious, and in the second half of the league, Real Madrid swept away the decline and won five consecutive league victories. The gap with Atletico is only four points. With the slightest mistake, Atletico may not even be able to keep the top three positions.

At that point, Simeone will probably have to make a single choice, and he will have to choose between the league and the Champions League. Such a choice is naturally painful and helpless for the manager. So Simeone gave the order for the first time before leaving for Sevilla. Two games against Sevilla and Leganés must be won.

After the Copa del Rey game, Gabi's injury was further confirmed by the team's medical team. It is advisable to rest for two to three weeks. This means that Gabi will almost be out of the do-or-die clash with Barcelona in ten days' time.

Simeone was crazy. Gabi is not only the captain but also plays an integral role in the team's tactical system, but the opinion of the head of the team's medical team, Pitias, is equally clear. Considering that Gabi has an old injury, they gave professional advice from the point of view of being responsible for the player's career.

"Diego, you don't want injuries to speed up his boot deadline, do you?"

Simeone stopped talking. After all, Gabi is thirty-four years old, the veteran has an injury, and the recovery period must be longer than that of a young man of Wen Zhihao's age, he knows that he is a little anxious, but he also has a hard time.

Gabi's defence in midfield is an important safeguard for Atletico. Without him, Atletico Madrid will have a hard time facing Villarreal, not to mention Barcelona, who has the best passing ability in the midfield. Moreover, there is currently no suitable replacement for Atletico Madrid's first team, who can perfectly meet the role of Gabi in terms of experience and defensive hardness.

Simeone kept Gabi's injury tightly under wraps. Declared that he could be in time for the match against Barcelona. Avoid eventful media influencing the team excessively.

But there are no impermeable walls, and it's almost an open secret when the starting line-up and formation are announced before the game against Sevilla.

Simeone changed formation.

When Gabi is healthy, relying on his excellent positioning and single defense ability, Atletico can play 4-3-3, and the trident combination can attack the defense without any scruples. But in this game, not only did Gabi not appear in the squad, but Atletico's formation also changed to 4-2-3-1, with Costa as a lone arrow and Wen Zhihao as a forward behind him. Antoine Griezmann made a cameo from the middle to the wing, playing as a right midfielder. The midfield duo is Thomas and Saul.

The entire midfield suddenly adjusted, and even temporarily dismantled the frontcourt trio that had gradually been formed, and the media could have a rough estimate in their hearts as soon as they communicated with each other.

Such a nerve-wracking major is not just for this game. Sevilla also don't have the quality to allow Atletico to develop a single style of play to deal with.

Barcelona qualify, though!

Before the start of the game, Garcia told everyone a very likely truth: "Although Atletico Madrid is tight-lipped, Simeone's changes still actively exposed some information. Gabi's injury is probably not as optimistic as it has been said by the media. There is only one explanation for the sudden change: Simeone is preparing for the game against Barcelona, which means that Gabi is likely to miss the crucial trip to Camp Nou in the near future. ”

He Wei doesn't particularly care about when Gabi will come back, and his worries are whether it will affect Wen Zhihao's performance after the change of formation.

Sevilla FC started with a ferocious attack and clearly had a plan for the game. Sevilla are currently fifth in the table, just three points behind fourth-placed Real Madrid, and could push a little harder to squeeze into the top four and secure a place in next season's Champions League. That's the biggest motivator.

Sevilla FC have been in good form on both fronts this season and are inseparable from the two men. One is Argentina coach Beriso and the other is French striker Ben Yedder. Counting the Champions League qualifiers, eight goals in eight games. At the league level, he scored 12 goals in 18 appearances, and his career exploded. And this game is also his first problem for Atletico.

In the twelfth minute, he received a low arc cross from Navas, swooped down to the top before Jimenez could lift his leg to clear the ball, and made an extremely beautiful arc past Oblak's ten fingers and ran to the corner!

In the opening stages, Sevilla did fly with both wings and took the initiative on the field. It's no surprise to take the lead, they have that quality.

The key question is how to choose for Atletico?

The purpose of Simeone's change of formation is to consolidate the midfield midfield and pursue a balance between attack and defence. But is it reliable that the balance of power in the score was broken first, and the tepid stalemate continued?

He Wei has his own worries: "In this formation, Wen Zhihao and Costa are too exposed, and as long as Sevilla is heavily deployed on the central axis, Atletico Madrid's attack will be difficult." Simeone's move to Griezmann on the flanks is debatable. While Griezmann has a speed advantage, it limits his spirituality in the middle of the pitch, while Wen is missing a dangerous point of contact. A carriage that would have required three wheels to go smoothly now has only two. Although it can barely move, it is very dangerous and can overturn at any time. ”

Simeone, of course, can see the problems on the pitch. But it won't be adjusted immediately.

In his heart, Wen Zhihao, Antoine Griezmann and Costa are a fixed match that cannot be shaken. Although Antoine Griezmann's cameo in an unfamiliar position was a bit jerky, Simeone believes he is only temporarily uncomfortable.

Simeone's move to Griezmann as a right midfielder was not without purpose. Barcelona's left-sided defence is a relatively easy one to dominate. In Gabi's absence, the idea of playing against Barcelona was in vain. Simeone instead tried to play with Wen Zhihao's midfield play, Griezmann and Carrasco flying on both wings, and the two of them were able to play one-on-one.

With this game, Simeone did a trial in advance. However, twenty minutes into the game did not produce the effect he wanted, and the side effects were evident – Atletico's impressive overall passing and cross-cutting interplay between the front three since Christmas had not been seen at all in this game.

Atletico fans have a hard time accepting the team's very different performances. There are no bright spots in the attack, and even the defense line in the midfield is unstable, what is Simeone making stupid?

Is this still Atletico Madrid, who are shouting for the treble? On this scene, what to take to fight with Barcelona!