In a division that’s long been dominated by a couple of teams, it’s refreshing to see some new names battling it out at the top of La Liga.

Atletico Madrid, of course, have been in the mix at the summit of the table for more than three years now, forcefully challenging the duopoly of Real Madrid and Barcelona. This season, Sevilla are looking to propel themselves into the frame and will be given a stern litmus test when they meet Atletico on Sunday.

Jorge Sampaoli has stepped in to take over from the departed Unai Emery and sitting pretty in third place in the table, the transition so far has been an undeniably positive one.

Atletico may not have made a change of manager, although they’re undergoing something of a transformation of their own. While they remain defensively rugged and robust, Diego Simeone’s league leaders have added a dash of flair to their play, with a 7-1 win over Granada last time out their finest performance of a brilliant campaign so far.

And although all eyes will be on the Andalusians to see how they fare against one of the titans of the Spanish game, this is a test of Atletico’s newfound outlook too. A win against Sevilla in Seville with a swagger would crown that recent progress.

A fascinating contest is in store at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan. It may not include Real Madrid or Barcelona, but the 90 minutes should offer a telling insight into whether we can expect another possible outsider challenging for the title this term.

Where to watch game on US TV and streaming

Date: Sunday, October 23
Time: 10:15 a.m. (ET), 7:15 a.m. (PT)
TV: beIN SPORTS en Español
Streaming: Sling World Sports and fuboTV (free trial)

Sevilla

It’s so far, so good for Sampaoli, who has steered his team to a very strong beginning to the La Liga season, with 17 points accrued from their first eight games.

Nevertheless, the former Chile boss will feel as though there’s more to come from this group of players. Sevilla have showcased a lot of resilience so far under Sampaoli, finding late winners in frantic games and putting relentless pressure on opponents. But they’ve yet to fully settle into an attacking groove.

Perhaps that’s partly down to the frequent changes Sampaoli has made to his system in the early weeks of the season, with variations of 4-1-3-2, 3-5-2 and 4-1-2-1-2 already used in 2016-17. Additionally, the influx of new attacking players like Samir Nasri, Franco Vazquez, Wissam Ben Yedder and Luciano Vietto haven’t quite struck up relationships yet.

What Sampaoli has cultivated in Andalusia is a brilliant spirt. The style of football he preaches often makes for end-to-end affairs and it’s little surprise plenty of Sevilla’s matches have oscillated wildly. Yet so frequently, Los Nervionenses find an edge late in matches.

If the manager can build on these foundations and strike an attacking balance, there’s no doubt Sevilla can be a force this term, having shown they’re capable of battling to results, sometimes against the odds. Winning at Leganes last time out saw the side conquer a huge mental hurdle too, winning away from home in the league for the first time in 22 months.

However, this showdown with Atletico is undoubtedly their first significant test of the La Liga season and it’s going to be fascinating to see quite how Sampaoli sets his side up for this one. A positive result on home soil will take tactical acumen, discipline and a prolongation of the steely determination that’s pulsed through this team so far.

Atletico Madrid

The caveat to Atletico’s stunning 7-1 win over Granada was that they were playing a pretty poor side. But the attacking panache they played with was another illustration that this team has evolved in the early weeks of the season.

The Rojiblancos have fashioned a reputation, unfairly at times, for playing simplistic, defensive and dull football under Simeone. And while there’s no doubt Atletico have always placed a strong emphasis on keeping the opposition out, players like Antoine Griezmann, Koke, Yannick Carrasco and Filipe Luis have long caught the eye in the final third.

In 2016-17, the manager has given the attack, bolstered by the signings of Kevin Gameiro and Nicolas Gaitan, as well as the emergence of Angel Correa, some more license. Sitting top of the table, having already played Barcelona at the Camp Nou, it’s a ploy that’s worked wonderfully for Simeone.

SEE MORE: Schedule of La Liga schedule on US TV and streaming

Koke is purring in the central midfield role he’s long craved, Griezmann is enjoying freedom to roam, while Gaitan and Gameiro bring even more incision in the final third. With 21 goals scored and just three conceded, the balance at the moment is just about perfect.

A visit to a Sevilla side that is strong at home and in brilliant form may prompt a step back from the cavalier approach deployed against Granada, although expect to see more intent from Atletico than they have shown here in recent years, as they seek to hold off the charge of Real and Barca.

Should they play to recent levels, it’s tough to see Sevilla coping, as Atletico are more than worthy league leaders. The diversity of attacking options and adaptability to cope with different in-game situations means they look well equipped to tackle any challenge.

Predicted Line-Ups

Key Battle – Samir Nasri vs. Koke

One of the most positive facets of Sampaoli’s tenure so far has been his revitalization and subsequent utilization of Samir Nasri; the Frenchman, like Koke, will be out to manage the tempo of the match for his team.

At Leganes Nasri was superb for Sevilla. At times he was loitering between the lines and linking play in wide areas, but the 29-year-old also dropped into deeper spots when his team was under pressure, distributing with intelligence. Given his career had stalled at City, seeing the playmaker back at a level approaching his best has been wonderful.

Koke is another player in brilliant form coming into this game, relishing the responsibility of being deployed at the hub of Simeone’s side. Already he’s struck up a superb affinity with Gabi in the middle of the park and contributed to the team’s sharper attacking play with his technical talent.

There’ll be a greater defensive responsibility on the Spain international in this one, as Sevilla have sharp players adept at creating space in front of the back four. How Koke deals with a roaming Nasri and exerts his own authority on the game will be critical to determining the outcome of this one.