Sevilla take aim at Atletico as La Liga’s third force

MADRID: Atletico Madrid have been sitting comfortably as Spain’s third power for the best part of a decade but that status is under threat ahead of the new La Liga campaign by a Sevilla side on the rise and an ambitious Villarreal. Atletico began last season as title contenders after a superb pre-season and making some eye-catching signings. However, that early promise soon faded as the new arrivals struggled to bed in and they had to pull together an impressive late charge to finish in the top four. Hopes for this campaign have been tempered following their Champions League defeat by unfancied RB Leipzig and little prospect of new signings due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. With few arrivals on the horizon, there will be increased pressure on last year’s recruits, particularly 126-million-euro (US$149.47 million) forward Joao Felix, who showed only flashes of brilliance in a campaign in which he scored nine goals in all competitions. “We had a lot of new players and the first year is never easy,” said midfielder Saul Niguez. “But I think this year we’ll see those players settling in more and understanding more what the boss wants from them. “I sincerely… Read full this story

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