It’s A Damn Final

By: Al | May 16th, 2009

I’m so excited for tomorrow that I can’t contain it. SO EXCITED!!!! The last Champions League spot is all that we have left to fight for, and the word “final” is being thrown all over the place in Atlético and Valencia circles. There is no more Depor, or Villarreal, it’s just us.

<– Also, we don’t have to worry about that guy. Phew.

Great matchup? Check. Biggest game of the season? Check. Forlan and Kun bringing down “Brokebat Mountain”?* Check. Us snatching 4th? Check

I dare anybody to stop us.

You see, if Valencia faces the same Atlético squad that played against Barca, and Real Madrid (the second time), and Villarreal, they have no chance. There, I said it.

The motive that has given Atlético their best games of the season is playing big teams in big games. The only team we have lost to in the top 6 since Abel Resino took over was Sevilla, and that was when the team was still in shambles after Aguirre’s tenure. Tomorrow’s game will be big enough that the prize on the table is tempting enough to make the Atleti magic appear, where Forlan scores from 30 yards out and Aguero makes the opposition’s defenders trip on themselves.

The Valencia team that we face tomorrow won’t be as good as the Barcelona and Real Madrid that we faced a few months ago, but they’ll still be on fire. Since their win against Racing in late March, they’ve only tied once (Barca) and lost once (to Espanyol, seriously?) out of 8 games. That’s what I call perseverance. Too bad it may all be irrelevant tomorrow.

The only danger men that I’m aware of from Valencia is David Villa and Juan Mata, the team’s top scorers (25 and 11 goals respectively). Fortunately, there is no David Silva to take care of, as he ruined our team last time. I don’t need to remind you. (I’m secretly a fan of Joaquin as well).

Our attack is better, though. 27 and 16 goals for Forlan and Kun Aguero

We are without Heitinga and Perea, who are suspended (former through yellow cards and the latter through last week’s red card), so whoever takes over in the right will have Juan Mata on their hands. No Antonio Lopez either. Atlético B player César Ortiz has been called up but I’m not sure if he’ll take the right back position. I’m not the biggest fan of Pablo but he better have the game of his life, since him and Ujfalusi have David Villa to be most careful with. I also wouldn’t rule out an appearance by youngster Dominguez either.

What irritates me the most is not knowing which Atlético squad will show up tomorrow. Yes, I did mention that Atlético shows up to the big games, but you can never be too confident in a team that loses 2-4 to Osasuna at home (had to say it…). Either the hungry, fight-to-the-death version, or the version that loses at home to the likes of small clubs, will be present at the Calderon tomorrow. I’ll just hope that Forlan has a fire under his ass, then we will have nothing to worry about.

URUGUAYOOOO

This game will come down to which team’s defense sucks less. Since Valencia has Marchena out, I assume that it’s a disadvantage. Our defense should do fine, and I hope that we don’t miss Perea and Heitinga too much. We just have to have faith in whoever Abel decides to play in the center.

A tie would be somewhat acceptable, but still, God forbid. Although Valencia visits Villarreal away next weekend (and Villarreal has been doing great against them) that would still mean that we’d have to beat Athletic Bilbao away, who beat us last time. Ahh, stupid unpredictability. Whatever. Just win tomorrow and we’ll worry about Bilbao later.

Prediction: 3-2, Forlan man of the match with two goals, Aguero sealing the last goal. And two easy goals for Valencia in the first half.

PORTEROS
1 Coupet.
25 Leo Franco.

DEFENSAS
4 Pernía.
17 Ujfalusi.
22 Pablo Ibáñez.
28 Álvaro Domínguez.
34 César.

CENTROCAMPISTAS
8 Raúl García.
9 Luis García.
11 Maxi Rodríguez.
12 Paulo Assunção.
16 Éver Banega.
19 Miguel de las Cuevas.
20 Simão.
24 Ignacio Camacho.

DELANTEROS
7 Forlán.
10 Kun Agüero.
14 Sinama-Pongolle.

Lineup prediction (a toughie):

Leo Franco; Pernia, Ujfalusi, Dominguez, Pablo; Maxi, Raul Garcia, Assunção, Simao; Forlan, Kun Aguero

*Thanks to Yevy from Dynamo Kiev Offside for that badass nickname.