Copa Del Rey Preview: Atlético Madrid - Orihuela

Atlético Madrid welcome Orihuela to the Vicente Calderón this week for a match which, for the sake of Javier Aguirre and all the players, they really must win. Los Rojiblancos have been in terribly inconsistent form as of late and a loss to the Segunda B side would further de-rail a season that started so well…

Single Goal

Following on from the first leg played two weeks ago this match will commence with Atlético Madrid holding a vital one goal lead, but it could easily have been so different if Orihuela had taken their chances. As is the way with the Primera side they are always likely to give you chances and it certainly wasn’t any different at Los Arcos as they presented their hosts with numerous opportunities to test Leo Franco. Luckily for Atlético the Argentine was more than equal to the tests and they managed to nick the win courtesy of a strike from Diego Forlán just before half-time.

Coach Aguirre confirmed after the game that ‘it wasn’t as easy as we were anticipating’ and they will certainly need to up their game if they want to win this tie with comfort. Against Osasuna at the weekend they were woeful and contributed to their own downfall by starting with a five-man midfield and leaving Forlán on the bench until the second-half. This Wednesday it is highly unlikely that Atleti will play anywhere near a full strength side but the starting eleven will be sprinkled with some first-team players just in case things do get tough.

Away Day

Worryingly for Atlético the visitors to the capital this Wednesday have so far this season been more adept away from home than they have at their own ground. Coach Vicente Verza has instilled a good work ethic in his team, as illustrated by their fighting performance at home, and in the league they have picked up nine points on the road compared to six at home. Their most recent away day was a trip to Gramanet where they ran out 3-1 winners and they will hopeful of pulling off an upset here with just the one goal deficit.

If they are to turn it around they will certainly have to defend solidly and take some of the chances which are sure to come there way. In the first leg the key to their game plan was closing down the midfield to deny Atlético much space and whilst that may not work as well in the Calderón they will know that they cannot afford to give players such as Forlán, Ignacio Camacho and Florent Sinama-Pongolle too much time on the ball if they want to win this tie.

FORM GUIDE

Atlético Madrid

Nov 9 Osasuna 0-0 Atlético Madrid (La Liga)

Nov 4 Liverpool 1-1 Atlético Madrid (Champions League)

Nov 1 Atlético Madrid 2-0 Mallorca (La Liga)

Oct 29 Orihuela 0-1 Atlético Madrid (Copa Del Rey)

Oct 26 Villarreal 4-4 Atlético Madrid (La Liga)

Orihuela

Nov 9 Orihuela 2-3 Sant Andreu (Segunda B)

Nov 2 Gramanet 1-3 Orihuela (Segunda B)

Oct 29 Orihuela 0-1 Atlético Madrid (Copa Del Rey)

Oct 26 Orihuela 3-2 Santa Eulalia (Segunda B)

Oct 19 Benidorm 1-0 Orihuela (Segunda B)

TEAM NEWS

Atlético Madrid

Much like the first-leg, Javier Aguirre will rest some of the bigger names, including Sergio Agüero, Simao and Maxi Rodríguez. Nonetheless he still includes some his first-team for the match.

Most notable is the inclusion of Diego Forlán again, and with Florent Sinama-Pongolle alongside him the strikeforce for the home side looks likely to find the net.

Probable Line-Up (4-1-3-2): Coupet - Seitaridis, Pablo, Domínguez, Pernía – Camacho - Luis García, Banega, Miguel de las Cuevas – Forlán, Sinama Pongolle.

Orihuela

Probable Line-Up (4-4-2): Alberto - Pablo, Benja, Iker, Andrés - Inarejos, Pereira, Navarro, Santi Villa - Tevenet, Ibán Espadas.

PREDICTION

The Copa Del Rey might not be the treasure that Atlético Madrid are hunting this season but there is no doubt they will be desperate not to exit the competition so early and not in these circumstances. The one goal that decided the first leg could be key as it gives them some leeway if they do concede against their lower league opponents, and it is hard not to see the hosts eventually scoring at least once. Aguirre is likely to play a few first-team players to bolster the side and they could be the difference here as Atlético progress to the next round.


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