Atletico de Madrid 0 : 0 Sevilla - Wasteful Atletico held

Posted Sunday, October 02, 2011 by PA

Atletico Madrid were left to rue a number of missed chances as Sevilla held on to extend their unbeaten start to the season with a 0-0 draw at the Vicente Calderon.

Radamel Falcao was the main culprit for the home side as he inexplicably blazed over from five yards out with the goal at his mercy on 62 minutes. The Colombian was also denied by a wonderful save by Javi Varas in the second period whilst Jose Antonio Reyes saw efforts fly just wide in either half.

Sevilla's best chance arrived just after the break when Manu del Moral robbed Mario Suarez and ran through on goal but was denied by a great save from Thibaut Courtois.

Atleti had won their previous two home games 4-0 and they started very much on the front foot. Reyes came close twice within the first 10 minutes as he was first denied by a smart save from Varas and then, as the ball dropped to him on the penalty spot, he placed his left-foot shot just past the keeper's right-hand post.

Sevilla were struggling to contain the movement of Diego, Arda Turan and Reyes, who were all playing just behind Falcao, and Emir Spahic did well to prevent Diego reaching a Reyes pass inside the area before Varas had to be alert to stop Falcao getting onto another nice through-ball by Diego.

The visitors had appeared to miss the presence of top-scorer Alvaro Negredo, who started on the bench, in the first period but they began the second with much more attacking intent and were denied by Courtois twice in five minutes.

Firstly Jesus Navas turned inside and saw his left-footed drive excellently turned away by the Belgian before Manu galloped through the Atleti half, having stolen the ball from Suarez on the halfway line, but Courtois closed the angle well before parrying the winger's shot.

Falcao then missed a sitter as Reyes' cut-back found him directly in front of goal inside the six-yard box but he shanked his finish over the bar. Atleti's record signing nearly made amends five minutes later but Varas just managed to get a touch on the ball with his trailing foot to turn the shot just wide.

Varas made another good save to turn Reyes' bending effort from the edge of the area behind and substitute Eduardo Salvio flashed another shot on the Sevilla goal just wide in stoppage time but it was not to be for Gregorio Manzano's men.

The point was enough to move Sevilla above city rivals Real Betis into fifth while Atleti's mixed start to the season sees them sit in eighth.