Atletico Build Up

[Kenneth]

Anyone know the kickoff time?

[lickedlollipop]

Semi-finals , 1st leg : 22 April 2010

21:05 Club Atlético de Madrid vs Liverpool

[Taxi]

I see rafa has said that we must score in the away leg...i do wish he wouldnt come out with these comments this season. Nailed on that we wont score now, this season is cursed.

[SB]

After his goal, and general display, i'd expect N'gog to start??

Reina

Johnson
Carra
Kyrgiakos
Agger

Mascher
Lucas

Kuyt
Gerrard
Babel

N'gog

I'll not be surprised to see this side run out either

[Pablo]

Semi-finals , 1st leg : 22 April 2010

21:05 Club Atlético de Madrid vs Liverpool

For anyone that reads this and risks missing the 1st Half, that's the Spanish time, its 8.05pm UK time.

[SB]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/7615823/Atletico-Madrid-v-Liverpool-match-preview.html

Key clash

Diego Forlan v Jamie Carragher: Though roundly condemned in England as a £7.5 million flop after a disappointing spell at Manchester United, Forlan always enjoyed himself against Liverpool. The Uruguayan continued that streak at Anfield last August in a pre-season friendly, and, in the absence of Sergio Aguero, it is to Forlan that Atletico will turn as they seek to gain a lead to take to Anfield.

Tactical battle

The curiosity of the away goal means that, while Atletico's natural instinct is to attack, the emphasis is on the hosts not to concede, forcing the likes of Simao and Jose Antonio Reyes to curb their usual ambition. Liverpool will look to contain a pacy, technical attack, especially in the early stages, but Rafael Benítez's side saw in Lisbon the value of scoring away from home.

Touchline duel

Quique Sanchez Flores v Rafael Benítez: The Atletico Madrid manager has something to prove against the man he succeeded, and failed to emulate, at the pair's former club Valencia. While Benítez is still lauded at Mestalla as one of the greatest coaches in the club's history, Sanchez Flores – a pundit while the Liverpool manager was still in Spain – was eventually sacked and forced to rebuild his career at Benfica and now Atletico.

Probable teams

Atletico Madrid (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Dominguez, Antonio Lopez; Assuncao, Raul Garcia; Simao, Jurado, Reyes; Forlan.
Liverpool (4-2-3-1): Reina; Johnson, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Agger; Lucas, Mascherano; Kuyt, Gerrard, Benayoun; Ngog.
Referee: L Duhamel (France).

[Kenneth]

For anyone that reads this and risks missing the 1st Half, that's the Spanish time, its 8.05pm UK time.

Cheers

[Shaggy]

Has anyone got a link for the video of Rafa's 'press conference' in the buffet car on the train? Ta.

[Reece]

Has anyone got a link for the video of Rafa's 'press conference' in the buffet car on the train? Ta.

Haha did he really do that? Did he dress up as a waiter?

[Shaggy]

[SB]

Haha did he really do that? Did he dress up as a waiter?

No it was Arbeloa trying to get back with us cause we're gunna win the Europa league

[SB]

RAFA BENITEZ will urge his players to put Atletico Madrid under pressure from the word go tonight as Liverpool aim to take a giant step towards the Europa League final.

The Reds arrived in the Spanish capital yesterday afternoon after their marathon rail, road and air trip but Benitez wasted no time in ensuring the squad switched straight into big game mode.

After catching up on some sleep, Liverpool trained last night in the imposing Vicente Calderon stadium ahead of their first leg tie and their manager was encouraged by what he saw.

Though Liverpool’s form on the road in Europe has been poor this season – they have only beaten Debrecen and Unirea Urziceni in six games – Benitez is confident of vast improvement here.

Even without the injured Fernando Torres, he is adamant his team can cause Atletico problems and feels if they can secure an away goal, it will give them a huge chance of reaching Hamburg.

“It is true there has been a big difference between our games at home and away this season,” said Benitez, who is expected to hand Dirk Kuyt the role of lone striker.

“We have scored lots of goals at Anfield but away we have to improve. How can we improve? By showing character and making ourselves difficult to beat. If we show good character, we have got the quality to beat anyone.attack attack attack. that's how we can score goals away from home

[Shaggy]

Reina

Johnson
Kyrgiakos
Carra
Agger

Lucas
Mascherano

Benayoun
Gerrard
Babel

Kuyt

[Baracus]

The lads were singing this song

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOQAKiEurWA"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOQAKiEurWA[/ame]

[Mike]

“We have scored lots of goals at Anfield but away we have to improve. How can we improve? By showing character and making ourselves difficult to beat.

Sounds too defensive.