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Europa League Preview: Atletico Madrid - Sporting Lisbon
The hosts will be looking to continue their great form in Cup competitions this season...
| Bet: | Returns: | Legia £28.75 | Draw £32.00 | Sporting £22.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Legia £29.00 | Draw £31.00 | Sporting £22.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Legia £27.50 | Draw £32.50 | Sporting £23.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Legia £32.50 | Draw £32.50 | Sporting £22.50 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Legia £29.00 | Draw £32.00 | Sporting £22.50 |
|
Mar 10, 2010 4:30:00 PM
By Subhankar Mondal
Kick Off: Thursday, March 11, 2010. 19:05 CET.
Vicente Calderon, Madrid, Spain.
Atleti, The Cup Team
Atletico Madrid have been woeful in La Liga this season but as far as cup competitions are concerned, they couldn't have done better. Los Colchoneros are through to the final of the Copa del Rey for the first time since 2000 and will lock horns with Sevilla, while they have taken the Europa League by storm.
Atleti were dumped out of the Champions League at the end of the group stage but Quique Sanchez Flores' side knocked out Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray in the Round of 32. Atletico have been terrifyingly graceful in the Cup games in Spain this campaign and they will be looking to sustain their momentum in the Europa League too.
However, last season Atletico Madrid were knocked out of the Champins League knockout stage by another Portuguese side in FC Porto. They drew 2-2 at home in the first leg and failed to score away, so coach Quique Sanchez Flores will be wary of conceding in the first leg of their Round of 16 tie with Sporting Lisbon on Thursday evening. The former Valencia coach knows a thing or two about Sporting, having been in charge of their bitter rivals Benfica before taking up the coaching post at the Calderon.
Season Back On Track
Sporting Lisbon started the season slowly but have now begun to pick up the pace. They are currently fourth in the Portuguese Liga with 35 points from 22 matches, but are quite some distance from a Champions League place.
However, the Leoes have been hugely convincing in their last three matches in all competitions, having defeated Everton, Porto and Belenenses 3-0, 3-0 and 4-0 respectively. Against Belenenses, Sporting couldn't score in the first half but netted the ball four times in the second 45 minutes.
Sporting qualified for the last 16 stage of the Europa League after defeating Premier League side Everton 3-0 at home in the second leg of their Round of 32 tie. The Portuguese giants had lost the first leg 2-1 at Goodison Park.
FORM GUIDE
Atletico Madrid
March 7 v Real Zaragoza (A) - DREW 1-1 (La Liga)
February 28 v Valencia (H) - WON 4-1 (La Liga)
February 25 v Galatasaray (A) - WON 2-1 (Europa League)
February 21 v Almeria (A) - LOST 1-0 (La Liga)
February 18 v Galatasaray (H) - DREW 1-1 (La Liga)
Sporting Lisbon
March 7 v Belenenses (A) - WON 4-0 (Portuguese Liga)
February 28 v FC Porto (H) - WON 3-0 (Portuguese Liga)
February 25 v Everon (H) - WON 3-0 (Europa League)
February 20 v Olhanense (A) - DREW 0-0 (Portuguese Liga)
February 16 v Everton (A) - LOST 2-1 (Europa League)
TEAM NEWS
Atletico Madrid
Coach Quique Sanchez Flores will have a full-strength side to choose from and it is likely that he will go with the same side that played against Real Zaragoza on Sunday. Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero will be the two strikers and will be supported by wide midfielders Jose Antonio Reyes and Simao Sabrosa.
Probable Line-up (4-4-2): De Gea, Valera, Perea, Ujfalusi, Soto; Reyes, Tiago, Assuncao, Simao; Forlan Aguero
Sporting Lisbon
Coach Carlos Carvalhal will have virtually a full strength side to choose from. Striker Florent Sinama Pongolle is cup-tied having featured for Atletico Madrid in the Champions League in the group stages while Daniel Carrico and Yannick Djalo are injured.
Probable Line-up (4-4-2): Patricio, Abel, Polga,Tonel, Grimi; Veloso, Moutinho, Izmallov, Mendes; Liedson, Yannick
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Diego Forlan (Atletico Madrid)
The Uruguayan international striker didn't have the best of starts this campaign but he has now started to score goals. Forlan currently has 12 goals to his tally in La Liga and is looking threatening again. With Reyes to support him from the midfield, Forlan will be a key player up front for Atleti on Thursday evening.
Liedson (Sporting Lisbon)
The 32-year-old scored all four goals against Belenenses in Sporting's last league game and is currently on red-hot form. Atletico Madrid midfielder Paulo Assuncao himself has admitted that Liedson is the key man for Sporting and given Atleti's less than impressive backline, it won't be a surprise if Leidson scores on Thursday evening.
PREDICTION
Atletico Madrid are an unpredictable side and any result is possible at the Calderon. They have a leaky defence and this could allow Sporting to come out at them and score a goal, which they will probably do. But if Atleti's midfield and attack find their rhythm, then they should be able to win the game in the end.
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Sporting Lisbon
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