Atlético Madrid mounted a thrilling comeback to defeat Sevilla 4-3 in a dramatic La Liga clash at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The home side, trailing 3-1 with an hour gone, showcased resilience and determination to secure a vital victory, with Antoine Griezmann playing the role of hero by scoring twice, including a sensational stoppage-time winner.
The match began with early excitement, as Atlético took the lead in the 10th minute through Rodrigo de Paul’s powerful shot from the edge of the box. However, Sevilla responded almost immediately, leveling the score just two minutes later when Dodi Lukebakio slalomed past Julian Alvarez and fired a precise shot into the near post.
Sevilla then capitalized on a swift counter-attack in the 32nd minute, as Isaac Romero powered a shot past Atlético goalkeeper Jan Oblak to give the visitors a 2-1 lead. The momentum continued to shift Sevilla’s way when Juanlu Sánchez added a third in the 57th minute, finishing off a well-executed cross from the left side to seemingly put the game out of Atlético’s reach.
But Atlético refused to give up. Griezmann halved the deficit in the 62nd minute with a low finish, aided by Pablo Barrios’ assist. Then, in the 79th minute, Brazilian substitute Samuel Lino found space outside the box and struck a powerful shot into the bottom corner to equalize.
With the clock ticking down, Atlético pushed forward for the winner. In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Griezmann delivered a moment of magic, evading a defender and finishing with composure by curling the ball into the roof of the net to complete the stunning turnaround.
The victory moves Atlético Madrid up to third place in La Liga, just three points behind leaders Barcelona, with a game in hand. Sevilla’s inconsistent season continues, as they remain in 14th place, struggling with just five wins from 16 games.
After the match, Atlético manager Diego Simeone praised his team’s resilience, while Griezmann’s performance was lauded as a testament to his class and leadership.
For Sevilla, the defeat was another painful blow to their campaign, leaving them with much to ponder as they aim to turn their fortunes around in the coming weeks.