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Diego Simeone made wholesale changes to his Atleti side ahead of its UEFA Champions League quarter-final second leg against Barcelona on Wednesday (AEST), knowing its place in LaLiga's top four is all but guaranteed.

Sevilla took the lead after 10 minutes from the penalty spot. Juan Musso got a hand on Akor Adams' spot-kick after Dani Martinez felled Isaac Romero, but the Atleti goalkeeper could only push the ball into the roof of the net.

The visitors managed to get back on level terms as Javier Bonar nodded in from close range after being picked out by Julio Diaz, but Sevilla were back ahead on the stroke of half-time as Nemanja Gudelj powered a header past Musso from Ruben Vargas's cross.

Sevilla went close to adding a third after a nervy start to the second half, but Romero's driven effort struck the base of the left post before a deflected effort from Vargas hit the side-netting.

Although Simeone brought on Ademola Lookman, the Atleti boss left the likes of Julian Alvarez, Antoine Griezmann and Marcos Llorente on the bench as Sevilla almost cruised to a much-needed victory in the end.

Simeone insisted his side did not lose because of his changes or because of its minds being on the UEFA Champions League, but rather because of Sevilla's desire to win.

"For me, age doesn't matter. Some players understand the game, others don't," he said. "We did more good things than bad; the truth is, the opponent desperately needed to win.

"We competed very well, but we couldn't create as many scoring opportunities as we wanted.

"We had much more possession than I would have liked; I preferred to be direct and intense in transitions, but we couldn't manage that. We ended up with a result that was narrow and that we could have drawn.

"Atletico didn't win because Sevilla was more clinical. We have a plan, but that doesn't mean it will work out well or badly. I have a plan, and I'm not going to deviate from it."