Malaga vs. Atlético: The Return!

By: Al | August 29th, 2009

This is it. Aside from the transfer market, summer is pretty much over. It’s time to hop off the USMNT bandwagon, time to buy your team’s 2009/10 kits, sign your kids up for daycare again, and if you’re like me, time to hit the books once again and get into scuffles with roommates for throwing up all over the bathroom. Woo hoo!

To be fair, pretty much every other league has started (England, Italy, France) but all eyes are on Spain because of the big names that have signed for Spanish clubs and everybody is curious to see pretty much, just Real Madrid and Barcelona and how they’ll both do. I admit that I’m a bit curious too, but the priority is still Atlético!

It wasn’t really the most exciting summer for our club. We made some okay signings – and when I say that, I really do mean okay. We signed two defenders (Juanito and Cabrera), a great goalkeeper (Asenjo), and received some players back from loans (Reyes and Cleber). Despite this, the coach has made the team’s lineups almost identical to last year’s. The only real change was adding Juanito and Asenjo to the lineup, otherwise, it’s identical to the Atletico that we saw at the end of last season.

Now that we’re officially back into the Champions League (and if I have to remind you, we’re in the group with Chelsea, Porto, and APOEL) the club will make an attempt to sign players that can only “improve the current squad”. The names that have recently been linked are Nicolas Burdisso of Inter and some right back from Real Madrid. We’re always linked with Inter players, which I find annoying. I wouldn’t doubt that the club will sign at least one more player, but what I really want is a killer center midfielder (Raul Garcia is alright).

We had an okay preseason, playing many good teams but only being able to defeat Benfica and Liverpool (both 1-2 away victories). I don’t ever take preseasons seriously, but from what I saw, the team still looks very dangerous, but still very clumsy in the back. Diego Forlán hasn’t lost his touch, and Aguero has already scored some killer ass goals and the Liga season hasn’t even started. Could this be Aguero’s best season yet? Don’t ask me, how the hell am I supposed to know.

It’s not going to be an easy season, and our most realistic title is still the stupid Copa de Rey. From what I’ve been hearing from Atlético supporters, landing 3rd place and getting to the quarter finals of the Champions League is enough to warrant a solid season. That’s not an impossible prediction at all, and if Atlético can do better, then sweet. A team this stacked can do many great things, which is why we expect so much from them.

Malaga

I honestly don’t know what to expect from this team going into the first match, which will be away to Malaga. Malaga is a very good team having ascended to the Primera Division last season and still securing 7th place. For a little bit, they were actually direct competition for the Champions League spots! If they are any better than last season, they can definitely qualify for Europa League spots.

Malaga was the first match that we played last year, which we won 4-0. However, the fact that we’re playing them away won’t make things easier. Last season when we visited, the game ended 1-1 despite us playing the better game. We were also in a crisis during this time, being unable to win a game all of January and looking for Javier Aguirre’s head so for sure we’ll be better this time around. A little Forlan and Kun magic will be crucial tomorrow.

Here’s the roster:

PORTEROS
1 Asenjo.
13 Roberto.

DEFENSAS
2 Valera.
3 Antonio López.
5 Heitinga.
16 Juanito.
17 Ujfalusi.
21 Perea.
18 Álvaro Domínguez.

CENTROCAMPISTAS
8 Raúl García.
9 Jurado.
11 Maxi Rodríguez.
19 Reyes.
20 Simão.
23 Cléber Santana.
28 Koke.

DELANTEROS
7 Forlán.
10 Agüero.
14 Sinama Pongolle.

I’m expecting all three points tomorrow. Lay the foundation for a great season! Aupa Atleti!

Side note: Word on the street is that this match won’t be televised, so if it proves to be true… ESPN Gamecast is the way to go.