Jornada 3: Atlético vs. Recreativo Huelva

By: Al | September 20th, 2008

Does anyone actually want La Liga to start again? I kinda do, but to be honest I’m already looking forward to the next Champions League matchday when we host Marseille. Maybe because I loved the PSV match so much, and it was cool being able to watch the match on demand on ESPN360.com (good idea watching it while drinking a 2-liter of Jarritos instead of studying for a Management exam). The next 2 Liga fixtures can be considered preparation for the match against Sevilla, which can be considered preparation against Marseille.

The Spanish press is still raving over “Kun” Aguero’s performance on Tuesday and how he’s expected to score again on Sunday. Of course he’ll score again. Psh.

Recreativo Huelva

Recreativo currently sits in 12th place in the table-that-doesn’t-mean-anything-yet. It won its opener at Betis 0-1 and lost its second match to Espanyol 0-1. Its top goalscorer last season, Florent Sinama-Pongolle, was snatched by some club named Atlético Madrid in the summer.

The striker has some kind words to say to As about his former club. I kindly translated some of the quotes for you:

Will you celebrate if you score against Recre?
Those things are things that happen “in the moment”, but maybe not. Recreativo gave me everything in Spain, same with Liverpool in England. I know that I was an important player for this club and it saddens me when they lose. And that’s why I’m sure I won’t celebrate.

Atlético has shown two very different faces. In the league it has been a little sleepy and in the Champions League it exploded. Which of those will you see against Recre?

Atlético is very strong. We lowered our guard against Valladolid, we quickly conceded two goals and it was very difficult to catch up. We should use that as a lesson. It won’t happen again, I’m sure of it.

The team counts on these points in the beginning of the season in order to have a cushion against the bigger teams.

Three points is always what’s important. The intention is to always be as high possible in La Liga.

The Match

Here are the rosters:

Atlético:

Keepers: Leo Franco, Coupet,

Defenders: Seitaridis, Ujfalusi, Perea, Antonio López, Pernía, Pablo

Midfielders: Assunçao, Maniche, Raul Garcia, Simao, Maxi Rodriguez, Luis Garcia, De las Cuevas, Banega

Strikers: Agüero, Sinama-Pongolle

Forlan is injured, and Heitinga is having knee troubles.

Recreativo:

Riesgo, Roberto, Iago Bouzon, Morris, Arzo, Poli, Camuñas, Javi Fuego, Jesús Vázquez, Aitor, Marco Rubésn, Adrián, Casado, Lamas, Oliveira, Barrer, Sisi, Akale

(By the way, “Javi Fuego” is a bad-fucking-ass name. Recre fans, does he live up to his name?)

Here’s the starting lineup I expect:

Leo Franco, Seitaridis, Perea, Ujfalusi, A.López, Maxi, Raúl García, Maniche, Simao, Kun, Sinama

Prediction: 2-0, goals by Aguero and Sinama.

The match will be shown on GolTV at 2PM Eastern on Saturday.

Aupa Atleti!