Atletico's 2015-16 ambitions set for first test against Sevilla this weekend

Atletico's 2015-16 ambitions set for first test against Sevilla this weekend [VIDEO]

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Atléti’s trip to the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium against high flying Sevilla on Sunday will give a good impression on the long season ahead for Los Rojiblancos, in their bid to challenge for the league title once again.

When Koke opened up about Atléti’s team this week, his remarks were what everyone has been talking about this offseason.

“We’ve got a great squad. We’ve strengthened well. I think we have one of the best squads of recent times and now we only have to work,” Koke said.

The summer acquisitions of stars such as Jackson Martínez, Luciano Vietto, Yannick Ferreira Carrasco, Stefan Savic and Filipe Luís, as well as the emergence of youngsters Óliver Torres, Ángel Correa, Thomas Teye Partey and Lucas Hernández has given Diego Simeone, for the first time, much needed depth. However, it is not just the added numbers that has made this already strong team even more feared right across Europe.

With a balance of proven performers and now a rich amount of some of the most promising youngsters in world football, Simeone is building an Atléti team to compete not only against La Liga heavyweights Barcelona and Real Madrid, but the rest of continent’s biggest teams and people are taking notice. Pundits and football experts have all favoured a stronger performance this season and have tipped the Rojiblancos to better their 2014-15 finish challenge for the crown.

While no team is a push over in La Liga for Atléti, their performance against newly promoted Las Palmas gave little suggestion of a side that will be able to replicate their 2013-14 triumph. Apart from the fortunate goal that came from a deflection off a free-kick, they could only muster two significant chances at goal, with one being another attempt from a dead ball in the closing stages.

Against a powerhouse like Atléti will, a newly promoted outfit will of course look to play a strong defensive line, however, this Sunday will not be the case. Simeone’s men meet Europa League winners Sevilla away from home, a team that will look to attack the Rojiblancos. It is the first real test of the season, from opposition that quickly look to be catching up to Atléti’s level.

Sevilla are undefeated in 26 of their last 27 home La Liga matches and have scored at least two goals in their last six games. Having recently and narrowly lost out to Barcelona in the UEFA Super Cup, with now Chelsea player Pedro Rodríguez having scored a 115th minute winner, Sevilla will look to get their La Liga season back on track after an opening draw against Málaga.

A comforting note for Simeone’s side is the fact they are unbeaten against the Sevillistas over their last 11 meetings in all competitions. However, Unai Emery’s outfit had to play the final 20 minutes a man down last week, after new signing Steven N’Zonzi received his second booking of the game.

Atleti’s coach will realise the importance of beating a side that only finished two points behind them last season and will look to hit form as another tough fixture beckons, with Barcelona loming after the international break.

“Our League is Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal and we have to as a minimum get third. That’s our objective. We all want to be champions but first we try to be third and whatever else comes will be welcome,” Koke stated.

This is perhaps the smart way to ease expectations and eliminate the pressure on his teammates, a tactic Simeone used regularly during their league winning campaign. Yet the fact is, Sevilla, Valencia and Villarreal are all looking dangerous. Not to mention Athletic Bilbao, who courageously pulled off the seemingly impossible and captured the Supercopa de España against Barcelona. With more competition this season, straight victories will be hard to come by even for Atléti. Yet for Sevilla, Carlos Bacca who scored 23 goals in total last season, is still yet to be replaced performance wise.

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Kevin Gameiro has been leading the line after Bacca’s departure, with on-loan Ciro Immobile still adjusting to his new team and he competition. With Diego Godín and José Giménez marshalling the backline and Jan Oblak in fine form in between goals, Atléti will look to beat back Sevilla’s attack. All Simeone has to hope is his striking partnership will start to blossom sooner rather than later. Relying on Antoine Griezmann all season to save the day will not be the favourable option, and was the predominant reason for attacking reinforcements this summer.

Optimism has been sky high for this Madrid side in the past few weeks with their recruiting and preseason form, however, with potentially two matches that can see Simeone’s team drop points against tough opponents, it could leave Atléti with a mountain to climb within the first four weeks of La Liga. This weekend’s encounter will go a long way in signalling which sides the Rojiblancos will truly be challenging this season.

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