Málaga Preview

By: Al | January 24th, 2009

It’s time to start “la segunda vuelta” and hopefully we start it as strong as we did the beginning of the season. Considering that the other teams above us don’t have tricky fixtures, there’s no option other than winning at Málaga tomorrow. It’s a “do or die” and the team must prevent itself from spiraling down and away from the Champions League spots.

The only way to describe everyone associated with Atlético (including me) is “annoyed”. The most faithful supporters, those that forget that they support one of the biggest underdog teams ever, are about as pissed and riled up as any supporter from a big club would be if their team were in 6th place. Most of the blame is being put on the manager as well.

We’re waiting for that good change, where we collect the easy points and a secure position in the table, and it’s further than we think.

Málaga is surprisingly tied with us on points and whether it’s a temporary high or a fluke, they are a tough team to defeat at home. They have only lost twice at home to Barcelona and Valladolid, drawn twice, and smashed the rest of the visitors. They are a surprisingly solid team, and just like Almeria last season, they have done a great job after returning into the Primera.

Atlético started off being a solid team when playing away, but after a string of pointless away draws, the team is proving that they’re nowhere to the level that they were in the earlier part of the season. A fixture like this, even though Malaga is a good team, is one that Atlético can definitely win but all that’s missing is the mentality that they once had.

Málaga was the team that we faced in the opening match of the season, and we thrashed them 4-0 and it’s no surprise that they’re pissed, something that players Baja, Cuadrado, and Calleja implied when talking to journalists. Málaga want their revenge, and are capable of getting it, and that’s why Atlético are in no position to play like dog shite all over again.

Tasty.

Here’s the roster:

PORTEROS
1 Coupet.
25 Leo Franco.

DEFENSAS
2 Seitaridis.
3 Antonio López.
5 Heitinga.
17 Ujfalusi.
21 Perea.
22 Pablo Ibáñez.

CENTROCAMPISTAS
8 Raúl García.
9 Luis García.
10 Maxi Rodríguez.
12 Paulo Assunção.
18 Maniche.
20 Simão.
24 Ignacio Camacho.

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

The only player unavailable for the trip is Mariano Pernia, who was also unavailable for the match at Almeria last weekend. Maxi is recovered but isn’t starting, with Sinama deservedly in his place.

Confirmed starting XI: Leo Franco; Perea, Ujfalusi, Heitinga, Antonio López; Paulo Assunção, Raúl García, Sinama, Simão; Forlán y Kun Agüero.

No excuse for playing with a squad like this.

I can’t stress how important it is to win at Malaga, because we must be in the best position possible before we have to face “the big four” consecutively. If this team is capable of getting into 3rd place before the break and even after some unfortunate results, they are definitely capable of getting back on track.

The players are definitely “all talk and no show” about getting back into Champions League spots, because a team that put on a performance like they did against Almeria last weekend is definitely one that doesn’t deserve to be in the Champions League at all. Disappointing results only lead to a worse table position and an increasing lack of faith, the latter being the thing that will bring us down in the end if we don’t stop it.

Let’s kick some southern Spain arse and get back on track. Aupa!