Copa Del Rey Final Preview: Sevilla - Atletico Madrid - 7M sport

Copa Del Rey Final Preview: Sevilla - Atletico Madrid

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Posted Wednesday, May 19, 2010 by Goal.com

The concluding match of the domestic Spanish season is the showpiece encounter between los Rojiblancos and los Colchoneros...

Kick Off: Wednesday, May 19. 21:30 CET
Camp Nou, Barcelona

Searching For Silverware

Neither Sevilla nor Atletico Madrid necessarily had a satisfactory season, yet Copa del Rey success would help soothe the scars created by Primera Division campaigns that were characterised by relative underachievement.

Los Nervionenses ultimately stumbled their way to fourth place, which was the club’s minimum objective, yet some distance off where they ideally wanted to be. Whispers at the outset of the campaign suggested that the Andalucians felt that they could offer some kind of challenge to the Barcelona-Real Madrid duopoly at the summit of the table, with third place specifically targeted by Manolo Jimenez.

Failure to seriously challenge for a podium place in the season’s run-in, as well as a style of football perceived to be overly negative by the Sevilla fans, ultimately cost Jimenez his job, with Antonio Alvarez promoted to a temporary role in charge of the first team. With Mallorca fading, Alvarez picked los Rojiblancos up sufficiently to guide them to the Champions League, finishing the league campaign with a 3-2 success over Almeria, thanks to an injury time goal from Rodri.

“It's a couple of years since we won a title so to do so now would be very important,” Frederic Kanoute told AS with regard to the forthcoming clash against Atleti. “We must approach the game with humility, but with confidence; we will try to beat them.”

At their very best, Sevilla have shown they can match any side. In January, los Nervionenses showed their mettle by becoming the first side to deny Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona silverware, eliminating la Blaugrana on the away goals rule in the Copa del Rey.

Returning to the scene of their greatest triumph this season, los Nervionenses must be confident.

The Specialists

Even in comparison to Sevilla’s rather disappointing league campaign, Atletico Madrid have had a disastrous season. Relegation appeared a possibility for a period before Abel Resino was sacked and Quique Sanchez Flores appointed, but even the former Benfica boss has been unable to lift los Colchoneros away from the mundane mid-table sector of the league.

As the campaign has evolved, it has become increasingly clear that Atleti’s hopes for success have been pinned solely on the Cup competitions, but they have successfully thrived under the pressure of the knock-out environment. Already the Europa League is locked safely inside the Vicente Calderon trophy cabinet, while a tenth Copa del Rey could join it on Wednesday.

“Winning the Europe League takes pressure off us but we are an ambitious team and we want to win both,” Jose Antonio Reyes told AS. “The feelings are good. Every now and then we talk about the game and it is an incredible motivation after winning the final of the Europa League.”

Though los Colchoneros’ path to the final hasn’t been as tricky as Sevilla’s, it has not been without drama. Segunda Division club Recreativo Huelva led Atleti 3-0 after the first leg of their tie in January, yet the Madrid side battled back to progress 5-4 on aggregate, snatching a decisive late goal with only ten men.

Celta Vigo were then edged 2-1 over two legs, before Racing Santander were finished off easily in the semi-finals, where a 4-0 victory at the Vicente Calderon rendered the return leg a formality.

With continental competition drawing a large part of Atleti’s focus of late, their recent 3-1 defeat to Sevilla can be somewhat discounted, with the capital side preferring to focus on the happier memories of a 2-1 success against the Andalucians back in January. A repeat performance should not be totally dismissed.

FORM GUIDE

Sevilla

WON 3-2 (a) Almeria (Liga, May 15)

LOST 3-2 (h) Barcelona (Liga, May 8)

WON 5-1 (a) Racing Santander (Liga, May 5)

WON 3-1 (h) Atletico Madrid (Liga, May 2)

LOST 4-3 (a) Getafe (Liga, April 25)

Atletico Madrid

LOST 3-0 (h) Getafe (Liga, May 15)

WON 2-1 aet (n) Fulham (Europa League, May 12)

DREW 1-1 (a) Sporting de Gijon (Liga, May 8)

WON 3-1 (h) Valladolid (Liga, May 5)

LOST 3-1 (a) Sevilla (Liga, May 2)


TEAM NEWS

Sevilla

Injury problems have frustrated Sevilla for much of the season, so it is fitting that they go into this fixture with a whole host of problems to contend with. Luis Fabiano has been ruled out due to a muscular problem, an issue made all the more chronic for Antonio Alvarez due to Alvaro Negredo’s suspension. Rodri may be given the nod in attack after his weekend heroics.

Federico Fazio, Fernando Navarro and Ivica Dragutinovic all are absent from the defensive corps once again.

Adriano and Aldo Duscher require late checks.

Probable Starting XI: Palop; Stankevicius, Squillaci, Escude, Adriano; Navas, Renato, Zokora, Capel; Rodri, Kanoute

Atletico Madrid

After resting the vast majority of his regular starters for the 3-0 weekend defeat to Getafe, coach Quique Sanchez Flores will reintegrate all of his stars back into the team.

Though Flores has had a bout of stomach flu this week, his squad is in significantly better condition, with only goalkeeper Sergio Asenjo and youngster Borja, who sustained a serious knee injury at the weekend, expected to miss the tie.

Otherwise, a 23-man squad containing all the usual suspects, as well as youngsters Joel and Ruben Perez, has been convened.

Probable Starting XI: De Gea; Ujfalusi, Perea, Dominguez, Lopez; Reyes, Assuncao, Tiago, Simao; Aguero, Forlan


PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sevilla

There are definite weaknesses in the Atletico defence, and with Sevilla in free-scoring form at present, Frederic Kanoute will want to exploit these. The Malian hasn’t had the greatest of seasons, but he has come into his own since Alvarez took the helm of the club, scoring five times in his last five matches. The 32-year-old will have to be closely policed.

Atletico Madrid

Jose Antonio Reyes has arguably been Atleti’s star man over the course of this campaign, and he will want to round the season off in style by picking up a trophy against his formative club. Reyes has already said that scoring on Wednesday would be “memorable” for him, and there can be little doubt that if Atleti are to succeed, then they need their creative wideman to be near his best.


PREDICTION

Neither side has been especially renowned for their consistency this season, making this a tough game to predict. Atleti have shown up well in the Cups, but Sevilla’s recent performances should give coach Antonio Alvarez hope that his side can finish the campaign with a real flourish. The Andalucians should start as favourites, but Atleti certainly cannot be written off in what should be an entertaining affair.

Sevilla 2-1 Atletico Madrid



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