OM are going into the game against Madrid with a lot of desire. This is a big and ideal match to really kick start their European campaign.
Match 2
Wednesday at 20h45
Stade Vicente Calderon
Referee : M. Henning Ovrebo (NOR.)
Live on Canal+
An away trip in a European competition always has a special flavour about it. A discovery of new stadiums like the Vicente Calderon but also new ambitions when you have to measure yourself against a club like Atlético Madrid. And, with the defeat to Liverpool two weeks ago, the need for a result has slipped into the minds of players who would like to continue their adventures into the Spring. «As we lost our first match, Atlético have become a direct opponent in the group , notes the captain Lorik Cana, Liverpool are the favourites, if we want to stay on course for a qualification, we need a result. It won’t be decisive but it would be a good step forward.»
Spoken about as an all out attacking machine over the last few weeks, the side from Madrid are coming into the game on the back pof a defeat at home to Sevilla on Sunday. A defeat that caused Gerets to stay that «the force of theis side could be turned to our advantage if we play things right.» Cana gives a hint by saying : «Everyone expects it to be a very open match, but football is also about defending. The side which plays consistantly and in a well balanced way will win the game.»
A good performance from OM at the Calderon would be a good confidence booster on the European front. Last season OM often had trouble in high stakes matches away from home in the Champions League (defeats in Porto and Istanbul) which allowed them to learn. «There are new opponents, we have new players but the team has much more experience now. We have to learn from our past mistakes and not repeat them » states Cana. Maybe thinking about the great performance against Liverpool last year, almost to the day.
The other match : Liverpool-PSV
Winners of the Mersey derby this week-end against Everton (2-0, two goals from Torres), Liverpool are at homeagainst PSV Eindhoven. It’s a chance for the "Reds" to make a perfect start to the competition, but they will have to watch out for a Dutch side looking for a win after their loss at home to Atlético (0-3).
Sinama-Pongolle and France
Having left France at a young age for Liverpool, the French striker Florent Sinama-Pongolle has started to make a name for himself again in the Madrid shirt. The match against OM will be the chance for him to show to his compatriots just what he is capable of. "It’s special for me to be playing against OM. Especially as I come from the Réunion and we all have a soft spot for the club there , he confided on Tuesday, yes, I want everyone in France to se me play, but I don’t want to be judged on one match. A player should be judged on his regularity. But this match will be a bit more special as I can see what you are getting at …" concerning his desire to break into the National side, as he recently declared in the Press.
Unusually, Javier Aguirre announced the team that will start tonight’s match yesterday. His only hesitation was whether to kick-off with Banega or De Las Cuevas in the midfield.
3The number of years wince OM’s last match against a Spanish side. It was in the Intertoto Cup against Déportivo la Corogne and it went rather well with a 5-1 win at the Vélodrome against the Galicians.
I don’t really think we’re under pressure. We want to put in a great performance that’s for sure. Most importantly we don’t want to lose but deep down, I think we can win this game."
