FCBARCELONA.CAT

20.05.2007 11:00

Atlético Madrid, irregular at the Calderón

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FC Barcelona face sixth placed Atlético Madrid this Sunday. A difficult rival, indeed, but also one that has been performing somewhat irregularly in home matches.

Atlético are sixth in the league with 54 points, having won 15, drawn 9 and lost 10, scoring 40 goals and conceding 29. Their away form has been stunning, with just three defeats and six draws, and it has been their home form that has been letting them down. It is these performances at the Vicente Calderón that the ‘mattress makers’ need to sort out if they are to return to European football for the first time in eight seasons.

Recovered players

Two of the red and whites’ most important players have returned from injury over the last fortnight, Maxi Rodríguez and Martin Petrov. Both the Argentinian and Bulgarian player tore cruciate ligaments in October and have missed a good part of the season. But both have now been declared fully fit and are likely to feature in Aguirre’s plans this weekend.

Fabiano Eller has been one of the biggest stars of the second half of Atlético Madrid’s season. The 29 year old centre back signed from Internacional of Porto Alegre in Brazil during the winter transfer endow, and actually played against Barça in the FIFA Clubs World Cup in Japan.

Playing the system

Javier Aguirre is the kind of manager with a system and who likes to stick to it. His Atlético likes to use the wings and get balls to the main attacking reference, Fernando Torres, who leads his side’s scoring with 12 goals this season. The side also has a notoriously solid back four that typically plays with two pivotal midfielders just in front.

Heading for Europe?

Atlético Madrid have spent a lot of money on building up the squad this season, President Enrique Cerezo is desperate for his club to get back into European competition, and has been willing to spend big to achieve the all-important target.