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La Liga Preview: Atletico Madrid – Espanyol

Who: Atletico Madrid (3rd, 31pts) vs Espanyol (5th, 30pts)

When: 15:00 CET - Sunday, December 23rd 2007

Where: Vicente Calderon, Madrid

As their city compatriots take part in the biggest game of the weekend, the second sides from Madrid and Barcelona square off in a battle to end 2007 in a Champions League qualifying position.

Just one point separates the two sides going into the fixture and with both teams in good form it promises to be an entertaining match on Sunday evening.

Atlético de Madrid are undefeated since their loss to Villarreal at the start of November and Espanyol have not lost since the September 22.

The Great Entertainers

Los Colchoneros have been involved three games that have ended 4-3 already this year, with a total of 47 goals scored in the games they have taken part in so far this season. Sergio Agüero and Diego Forlán have struck a fearsome partnership up front and have contributed greatly to the side’s success thus far.

Credit also has to go to the midfield, where players such as Raúl Garcia, Simão and Maxi Rodríguez have added their name to the scoresheet and provided a number of assists for the forward line.

Javier Aguirre has looked to shore up the team’s defensive line in recent weeks and this appears to have paid dividends, as they have only conceded two goals in their last seven games in all competitions. Last week’s goalless draw away to Recreativo was the game without a goal that they have been involved in all season.

After a disappointing campaign last season and a dubious start to this, Aguirre finally seems to have moulded Atlético into the team he wants and they look like they could be the closest challenges to Barcelona and Real Madrid as the season goes on.

Steady Does It

While their opponents on Sunday have been all about attack, Espanyol have taken a more measured approach thus far this season, at least at home, where they have scored eight goals and conceded four in their eight games at the Estadio Olimpico de Montjuic.

They have opened up more away from home and have been able to record impressive victories on the road against Sevilla, Valencia and Osasuna.

The form of Raúl Tamudo and his strike partner Luis García has been outstanding, as have the midfield contributions of Albert Riera and Valmiro Valdo.

Espanyol finished twelfth in Ernesto Valverde’s first season in charge, but on current form look like they will be among the favourites to claim a UEFA Cup qualifying berth come the end of the season.

FORM GUIDE

Atletico Madrid

Dec 20 Atletico Madrid 2-1 Panathinaikos (UEFA CUP)
Dec 16 Recreativo 0-0 Atletico Madrid (LA LIGA)
Dec 12 Granada 74 1-2 Atletico Madrid (COPA DEL REY)
Dec 09 Atletico Madrid 1-0 Getafe (LA LIGA)
Dec 05 FC Copenhagen 0-2 Atletico Madrid (UEFA CUP)

Espanyol

Dec 19 Espanyol 1-1 Deportivo La Coruna (COPA DEL REY) Smile

Dec 15 Espanyol 1-0 Levante (LA LIGA) Smile

Dec 09 Real Zaragoza 3-3 Espanyol (LA LIGA) Smile

Dec 01 Espanyol 1-1 Barcelona (LA LIGA) Smile

Nov 25 Osasuna 1-2 Espanyol (LA LIGA) Smile

TEAM NEWS

Atletico Madrid

Javier Aguirre is expected to name an unchanged side from last week’s 0-0 draw with Recreativo despite the return of Pablo Ibañez from injury.

Probably Starting XI: Abbiati; Perea, Eller, Pablo, Pernía; Maxi Rodríguez, R. Garcia, Santana, Simão; Forlán, Agüero.

Espanyol

Espanyol will be without Francisco Rufete, who returned after a five-month lay-off against Deportivo on Wednesday and promptly suffered a recurrence of the same injury.

Cesar Peixoto and David Garcia are both still out injured and Albert Riera is suspended.

Luis Garcia has recovered from injury and will start alongside Raul Tamudo up front, whilst Valdo is a slight doubt.

Probable Starting XI: Kameni; Zabaleta, Jarque, Torrejón, Clemente; Valdo, Moises, Angel, Moha; Garcia and Tamudo.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atletico Madrid – Sergio Agüero

‘El Kun’ has been in excellent form so far this season and is starting to repay the 20million Euros that Atletico laid out on him last summer. With quick acceleration, a low centre of gravity and clinical finishing ability, Agüero has drawn comparisons with Brazilian legend Romario and has already broken into the Argentine national team at the tender age of nineteen.

Espanyol – Raul Tamudo

Tamudo is Espanyol’s all-time top-scorer and has linked up impressively with his strike-partner Luis García so far this season. He is a living legend at the Estadio Olimpico de Montjuïc and up against an open Atlético side, could easily add to the seven goals he has already scored this campaign.

PREDICTION

Both sides go into Sunday’s match in good form and it is hard to separate them. Although Atlético have started to concentrate more on the defensive side of their game in recent weeks, they still look like conceding goals and therefore I feel that a score-draw is the likely outcome.