Baena double sends Atlético Madrid top after Sevilla statement

Talking point 1: A first-half lead too large for Sevilla to repair

Atlético Madrid won 3-1 away to Sevilla in La Liga on 29 August, with the match played at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán in Seville Source 1Source 3Source 4.

The visitors were already 3-0 ahead at half-time, making the opening 45 minutes the decisive phase of the contest Source 1Source 3Source 4.

Álex Baena opened the scoring in the fourth minute, and Lee Kang-in supplied the assist for that early goal Source 1Source 4.

Ademola Lookman added Atlético’s second in the 26th minute after Pablo Barrios created the chance Source 1Source 3Source 4.

Baena then completed his double in the 33rd minute, with Marcos Llorente providing the assist for Atlético’s third Source 1Source 3.

Miguel Sierra scored for Sevilla in the second half, around the 67th minute, but it amounted to a consolation in a 3-1 result Source 1Source 3Source 4.

The defeat was Sevilla’s first of the 2026-27 La Liga season Source 3Source 4.

Talking point 2: Baena supplied the defining contribution

Baena scored twice for Atlético, with his goals arriving in the fourth and 33rd minutes Source 1Source 3Source 4.

His first was assisted by Lee Kang-in, while Llorente set up his second, placing Baena at the centre of a first half built from several different attacking connections Source 1Source 4.

Lookman’s 26th-minute finish sat between Baena’s two goals, so Atlético’s three-goal burst came from two scorers before the interval Source 1Source 3Source 4.

Barrios’ assist for Lookman means three Atlético players registered assists across the three first-half goals Source 3Source 4.

The sequence was 1-0 in the fourth minute, 2-0 in the 26th and 3-0 in the 33rd Source 1Source 3Source 4.

Those details leave a straightforward talking point from Seville: Baena’s brace was matched by contributions from Lee, Barrios, Llorente and Lookman in the goals that put the game beyond Sevilla before half-time Source 1Source 3Source 4.

Talking point 3: The result and the statistical picture are worth holding together

Atlético had 58% possession and recorded five shots on target at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Source 6.

Sevilla nevertheless produced 21 shots to Atlético’s 12, while the expected-goals figures were 0.96 for the hosts and 0.93 for the visitors Source 6.

The 3-1 scoreline therefore came in a match where the sides were almost level on expected goals despite Atlético’s three-goal half-time advantage Source 6Source 3.

Atlético’s five shots on target, three first-half goals and 58% possession are the positive numerical elements alongside the final score Source 6Source 3.

Sevilla’s 21 shots and 0.96 expected goals are the corresponding figures that remain part of the match record Source 6.

Across their opening three league fixtures, Atlético have scored seven goals and conceded three, for a goal difference of +4 Source 5.

They are unbeaten after three league matches and have seven points from those opening three fixtures Source 3Source 1.

Talking point 4: The win arrived without Julián Alvarez

Julián Alvarez was absent from Atlético’s matchday squad amid transfer speculation linking him with Barcelona and Arsenal Source 1Source 4.

Atlético still scored three times in the first half through Baena’s two goals and Lookman’s finish Source 1Source 3Source 4.

Lee’s pass for the opener, Barrios’ assist for Lookman and Llorente’s set-up for Baena’s second spread the creative contributions across the side Source 1Source 3Source 4.

Lookman’s goal came in the 26th minute, placing him directly in the middle of Atlético’s first-half scoring run Source 1Source 3Source 4.

The match ended with Atlético having five shots on target, while Baena and Lookman accounted for all three of their goals Source 6Source 3.

Alvarez’s absence and Atlético’s attacking return are separate facts from a night in which the visitors took the points and the top place in La Liga Source 1Source 4.

Bonus point: Top of the table, with an early sample only

The victory moved Atlético Madrid to the top of the La Liga table Source 1Source 4.

Their early record stands at seven points from three matches, with seven goals scored, three conceded and a +4 goal difference Source 1Source 5.

They have not lost in the league so far, while Sevilla’s loss was their first of the campaign Source 3Source 4.

The contrast at the Sánchez-Pizjuán was sharp: Atlético left with the three points after a 3-1 win, while Sevilla had more shots and a marginally higher expected-goals figure Source 1Source 6.

For Atlético, the table position, Baena’s double and Lookman’s goal are the immediate outcomes from the weekend Source 1Source 4.

The Read

Atlético’s next two league fixtures are both away from home: Athletic Club on 5 September and Real Sociedad on 13 September Source 7.

Athletic have opened their league season with defeats to Barcelona and Sevilla Source 9.

Atlético have won four of their last five meetings with Athletic Club Source 8.

That record includes a 1-0 defeat in their most recent trip to Bilbao, in December 2025 Source 8.

The visit to Athletic is therefore the next chance to add to Atlético’s seven-point start and unbeaten three-match league record Source 7Source 1Source 3.

After that, the schedule sends them to Real Sociedad before a home league fixture against Osasuna on 16 September Source 7.