Spain’s capital Madrid has been in the headlines this week with the controversy over whether Atletico’s Champions League match against Liverpool on Wednesday would be played at their Vicente Calderon Stadium.
The venue takes center stage today when Atletico host Real Madrid in an eagerly-anticipated derby match.
Atletico have had a fortnight to lick their wounds after their 6-1 Camp Nou drubbing by Barcelona — when they were 5-0 down after just 18 minutes — and hope to hit back in the best possible way with victory over their neighbors.
“We will be facing a wounded animal,” Real defender Michel Salgado said.
The build-up to the fixture has been overshadowed by UEFA threatening to switch Atletico’s European game against Liverpool to a different venue as punishment for apparent racist remarks and heavy-handed policing in their last Champions League home match against Marseille.
UEFA seem set to overturn the decision, leaving Atletico to focus on their problems on the pitch and on the evidence of the Barcelona defeat there are some things still to iron out.
Atletico coach Javier Aguirre shouldered the blame for the Barca humiliation, but full-back Antonio Lopez urged his teammates to stop playing like schoolboys.
“We were asleep at the start. Our heads were down and there was no talking on the pitch. We played like schoolboys,” Lopez said.
A reaction is expected against Real as Atletico, who have slipped to seventh after a strong start, aim to show they are ready for Liverpool and give their fans something to cheer by toppling rivals Real.
Champions Real drew 2-2 with Espanyol in their last league outing and lie fifth in the standings, three points off the lead.
After their worst league start for 35 years, Barcelona have recovered well to climb to fourth, level on points with Real, and travel to Athletic Bilbao on tomorrow in high spirits after the Atletico mauling.
The goals have been flowing for Pep Guardiola’s side and they are the league’s joint top-scorers along with Real, with both sides averaging an impressive three goals a game.
It is unusual, and somewhat refreshing, not to see Barca or Real — who were top for most of last season — at the summit, with Valencia and Villarreal the early pacesetters.
Both teams have collected 16 points from a possible 18, with Valencia top courtesy of their superior goal difference.
Valencia host promoted Numancia tomorrow with striker David Villa, on target for Spain in their midweek 2-1 World Cup qualifying win over Belgium, calling for caution.
“We are at the top and we want to continue winning week in, week out,” Villa said. “When there are two months to go we will see who is in the title race. I hope we are one of those teams still in contention.”
Villarreal finished second last season and travel to Espanyol today looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the new campaign.
“Getting 16 points from 18 is an impressive statistic. Our objective is always to try and fight for the title and get closer to the big clubs,” Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini said.
Elsewhere, bottom side Real Betis go in search of their maiden win of the season at home against Real Mallorca tomorrow.
Osasuna are the only other team yet to win in the league, but new manager Jose Antonio Camacho, former coach of the Spain national team, hopes to change that at Sporting Gijon tomorrow.
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