Baena drives Atlético Madrid's rout of Sevilla with first-half double

Atlético Madrid settled their trip to Sevilla with a devastating opening half hour. Álex Baena, continuing the form that made him a world champion, scored twice and played a key role in the third goal to end the Andalusian side's perfect start in LaLiga.

• Álex Baena scored two goals and added an assist in the first 30 minutes.
• Lookman made it 2-0 with a low drive that struck the base of the post.
• Sevilla pulled one back through a spectacular Sierra volley in the 66th minute.
• Oblak kept Atlético in control with several key saves during Sevilla's push.
• The visitors managed the lead and saw out the closing stages with composure.

Baena takes charge as Atlético Madrid start at full speed

Atlético's opening goal was an early sign of intent. Kang-In Lee found Baena's run in behind, and the World Cup winner finished across goal with real quality. The chance came in the first clear opening of the match and set the tone for what followed: a visiting side moving the ball much quicker and pulling Sevilla apart with constant movement.

Playing without a fixed striker, Atlético turned that apparent limitation into an advantage. Lookman drifted in from the left to shoot from his preferred angle, and that is how the second goal arrived. In the 25th minute, the winger hit a crisp low strike that flew in at the base of the post. Sevilla looked stunned and conceded the third five minutes later, when Baena finished off a combination on the edge of the box with another cross-shot.

Sevilla reacts late and Oblak preserves the cushion

Sevilla needed 22 minutes to threaten the opposition goal, with a Kike Salas effort that flashed just wide. Only after Atlético's third goal did the home team step forward. There was little choice at that stage. Oblak then came into the game with a series of impressive saves from long-range attempts by Sierra and Guridi, keeping Atlético's lead intact before the break.

Baena and Grimaldo both had chances to extend the lead before half-time. Early in the second half, a quick move in behind ended with Baena setting up Lookman, but the goal was ruled out for a marginal offside at the start of the move.

Sierra's stunning volley gives Sevilla late belief

With nothing left to lose, Sevilla pushed higher and their attacking intent grew. Atlético lost some control under the home pressure, and Sierra's volley in the 66th minute gave Luis García Plaza's side the burst of energy they needed to chase what still seemed an unlikely comeback.

Atlético Madrid went into the break with a big lead and a clear edge in overall play.

Simeone responded by bringing on Koke, Giménez and Arnau to restore control, defensive security and width. The game opened up and Atlético almost added a fourth through a fine team move that ended with a looping cross headed by Barrios. A superb stretch save from Odysseas kept it out.

Simeone manages the closing stages with smart substitutions

The Argentine coach handled the final stretch with a couple more changes and the team conserved energy. Sevilla showed character and pride, but Atlético's first-half performance had been too much of a blow to recover from. The visitors picked up a dominant win against a rival that had started the league with two straight victories.

What Atlético Madrid's fast LaLiga start means

The win underlines Atlético's strong beginning under Simeone and, above all, Baena's willingness to carry attacking responsibility. The lack of a clear focal point up front did not stop the team from creating danger throughout, with the movement of the forward line proving one of the most valuable assets at this stage of the season.

For Sevilla, the defeat ends an opening run of two wins and leaves questions about their defensive structure. Luis García Plaza's team paid a heavy price for the first 30 minutes, a period in which Atlético were simply better in rhythm and execution.

Atlético Madrid's next challenge in LaLiga

The performance gives Simeone's side momentum ahead of the next round of fixtures. The way Baena and Lookman combined in the final third suggests Atlético can maintain their scoring threat even when rotating resources up front.

Frequently asked questions about Atlético Madrid vs Sevilla