Porto vs. Atlético: The Other Preview

By: Al | March 10th, 2009

Admit it, you forgot that Atlético was still in the Champions League. I kinda did too… after a rollercoaster of a season, I forgot that we’re still within the top 16 of Europe.

If you didn’t watch the first leg (I know you didn’t you jerks, don’t lie), Porto pretty much played us like fools and earned a well-deserved 2-2. Now they’re going into this match STILL undefeated since November and even hungrier to advance to the next round than we probably are.

And us… we had some good games against Barcelona and Madrid. We’re ready for you, Oporto.

Porto vs. Atlético: The Preview Parte Dos

If you want the dirty statistical information on both teams, just check out my first leg preview (Maniche still hasn’t decided on what to get on that KFC menu). Since our last match, Porto has tied 0-0 at home to Sporting the German Punching Bag, and defeated Leixoes 1-4. They’re one of the forgotten teams of Europe and are having an AZ Alkmaar style season with a really long and consistent string of wins since November like I previously mentioned.

At least they proved that they don’t always win at home with the draw against Sporting. In the last match, they didn’t outdo us but they matched us, and we played really well too. It’s a very even fixture and the styles of both teams are similar. Their attack is as deadly as ours, even if we have four wizards on the offense (Kun, Forlan, Simao, Maxi). Lisandro and Hulk (pfffft ahahaha) made Pablo and Ujo look like idiots.

How good are they at home? I’m not counting league results, but from Champions League results they’ve won twice (Fenerbahce and Arsenal) and lost once (Dynamo Kiev). The victory over Arsenal is the most impressive one, even though Arsenal was plagued with injuries during that match, they’re still Arsenal. And a reminder… Porto won their group. This team can’t be underestimated.

Porto can probably tell their keeper to put on his pouty face again and it’ll melt Atletico hearts, and it’ll make them vulnerable so they can score lots and lots of goals against us!

Atleti

If this were the day after the first leg, I’d be scared out of my mind for this match because of our team’s inconsistency. However – a big “however” in fact – I’d like to refresh your memory about the 4-3 over Barcelona and the crazy 1-1 away in the Madrid derby. If we can defeat Barcelona, then how hard should Porto be?

There’s only a small problem: Porto’s two away goals. That means that we absolutely need a victory tomorrow, or need to tie 3-3 or any bigger tie score line. Away victory possible? Damn right it is. Not only are we undefeated at home, we’re also undefeated away in the Champions League. 0-3 over a solid PSV team, and 1-1 to Liverpool (which we would have won if the ref weren’t a bastard). The 1-1 against Liverpool stands out the most, just because of the fact that we gave hell to the team that just buried our friends in white today 4 to f*ckin’ 0. I won’t mention the 0-0 against Marseille because that game just sucked in general.

We’ve shown up in big games this season many times. Why shouldn’t “Euro Atleti” show up tomorrow, on the biggest match of the season so far?

Resino: Hmm… what minute should I substitute Maxi Rodriguez this time?

PORTEROS
1 Coupet.
25 Leo Franco.

DEFENSAS
3 Antonio López.
4 Pernía.
5 Heitinga.
17 Ujfalusi.
21 Perea.
22 Pablo Ibáñez.

CENTROCAMPISTAS
8 Raúl García.
11 Maxi Rodríguez.
12 Paulo Assunção.
18 Maniche.
19 Miguel de las Cuevas.
20 Simão.
24 Ignacio Camacho.

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

The entire squad is available. I don’t know who the hell Resino is going to pick in the lineup, but here’s my predicted XI:

Leo Franco; Perea, Pablo Ibáñez, Captain Jack Sparrow, Antonio Lopez; Assuncao, Raul Garcia, Maxi, Simao; Kun, Forlan

Resino loves his Spanishness so he’ll probably bench Coupet and Heitinga. Jerk. But we love you.

Prediction: 3-3. This game will be crazy, folks. I expect an early goal, crazy comebacks, golazo’s, penalties, everything that makes Atletico games great. Try to have this match on a separate screen while you watch ManU vs. Inter or your preferred club’s match.

Atlético Madrid: Serious Business

P.S. AUPA TORRES!