Atletico Madrid V Liverpool Betting: UEFA Europa League (LIVE on CH5)

 

UEFA Europe League: Semi-Finals, First Leg

 

 

Atletico Madrid V Liverpool

 

Thursday, 22^nd April – 20:05 (GMT)

Vicente Calderon, Spain

LIVE on Channel FIVE

 

 

 

Atletico Madrid

 

Outright Odds: 5.00 totesport

 

Spain’s only Europa League representative is now Atletico Madrid as Valencia were dumped out by the team often found in the shadow of Real Madrid’s wake. Atletico, a team filled with stars and potential match winners, are aiming to make their first major European final in 25 years but must get past one of Europe’s most experienced clubs in Liverpool.

 

Like their semi-final opponents, Athletic Madrid fans are enduring a torrid season with the club languishing down in 10^th position in La Liga. A million miles away from the heights of Champions League football that was targeted at the start of the campaign. Of course, Madrid’s league situation is far worse than Liverpool’s, and it should be noted that failure to attain a positive result on Thursdau night will lead to further disgruntled fans as they know full well that a trip to Anfield won’t be easy. Almost impossible when you struggle to beat the ordinary teams let alone one of Europe’s very best.

 

Quite how Atletico have gotten this far is beyond me as we don’t know, nor remember, any team making it this far by winning just one game in the knock-out stage of the tournament. Their only win did, however, came whilst on their travels, also at an intimidating venue when they beat Galatasaray of Turkey 2-1. Their record in the knock-outs is 1-5-0, and while they haven’t lost a single knock-out tie as of yet, the amount of draws they’ve accumulated is a concern especially at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Atletico have been held to draws by Sporting Lisbon, Galatasaray and Valencia at home, and have relied heavily upon scoring enough away goals to get them through the two-legged affairs. Scoring a couple in the return leg at Anfield will be tough so a draw in this first leg, the home leg, won’t be considered a decent result in the eyes of the Atletico Madrid fans.

 

Like Liverpool, Madrid have their key absentee’s as Sergio Aguero miss the tie through suspension. He’s a player highly rated around Europe, one whom many managers have been admiring for some time while he also scored twice against Chelsea in the Champions League earlier in the season, so his absence is a big negative for them. Diego Forlan, however, will play and is out to get Liverpool once again as he famously scored some crucial goals against the Reds when he was a Manchester United player. Another play who has caused Liverpool a few problems down the years is Simao, He single handily knocked the Reds out of the Champions League two seasons ago when he scored twice at Anfield, and will be out to plot their downfall once again on Thursday.

 

 

 

 

 

Liverpool

 

Outright Odds: 2.65 bWin

 

The competitions most experienced club, or the team with the most European pedigree, is Liverpool and while they’ll set out on a 1,200 mile journey to the Spanish capital in a bid to put one step in their first UEFA Cup final since 2001, they’ve made two Champions League finals since then and are undoubtedly the team everyone else will look up to. Moreover, Liverpool are the bookies favourites to lift the trophy in Germany, but without their talismanic forward, Fernando Torres, are the Reds less of a threat?

 

There will be two questions asked before Liverpool take on Madrid’s second best team; How will they cope without a former Athletic prodigy in Fernando Torres, and how much will the 24 hour trip to Madrid take out of the players. We think are pretty easy to answer, not too well. Liverpool without the pace, flair and precision of Torres just isn’t the same, just doesn’t carry that same intimidating, daunting feeling. Whereas the length of time it took the team to get to Spain’s capital could also have an adverse affect on the Liverpool squad as no-one likes long journeys. I’m not too worried about the fitness levels of the players as that should be A-OK, but more about the concentration and the enthusiasm of the team, as I for one feel exhausted after spending hour upon hour travelling. Then again, Liverpool will have a good 24 hour and then some to adjust to their Madrid surroundings, so that shouldn’t be too much of an issue, although everyone will like to make out it will.

 

Rafael Benitez has come under heavy fire all season, with the Europa League now his last chance to shush some critics, although it won’t do a great deal in mending what has been a broken campaign for some time. They did keep their Champions League flame lit with a resounding 3-0 win at home to West Ham United on Monday. A win which didn’t just keep them in with an outside chance of sneaking into fourth but also built up some mini momentum heading into their first leg tie with Atletico Madrid. A team they failed to beat in last seasons Champions League in a group fixture, with the pair playing out a 1-1 draw. Moreover, Liverpool will need to banish an English voodoo as Atletico Madrid have never lost a European game against an English opponent on home soil. The Reds were just seven minutes away from doing so last season as Robbie Keane (remember him!) opened the scoring for Liverpool, but can they hold out to record a vital first leg victory at the second time of asking?

 

We’re unsure as to what sort of approach Rafael Benitez will take to this first leg in Spain, although it’s likely he will opt for two holding midfielders in a bid to make his Liverpool team as solid as possible. David N’Gog will play up front in a lone striker role – which is terrible news as he gives you no options, is a poor finisher and tends to sit in the corner with his thumb in his mouth half the time. Ryan Babel returns from suspension, Fernando Torres won’t play another game this season, while Insua won’t feature as well. Benitez certainly has a lot of factors to add in as he prepares his Reds for this Semi-Final encounter.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Europe League Statistics (Knock-out)

 

Atletico Madrid

 

Overall Record: 1-5-0

Home Record: 0-3-0

Offensive Record at Home: 1

Defensive Record at Home: 1

EL Form: WDDDD

 

 

 

Liverpool

 

Overall Record: 4-0-2

Away Record: 1-0-2

Away Offensive Record: 4

Away Defensive Record: 4

EL Form: WLWLW

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.25 WilliamHill

 

Liverpool’s only away win in the competition was in Romania against Urziceni, while Atletico Madrid have been prone to drawing a few games, all but one of their knock-out games in fact, so the draw looks a tasty outcome. Madrid will want to win this first leg as getting a result at Anfield could be a mountain too high despite a decent result in Liverpool on their previous visit. Liverpool, however, would ideally want to leave Madrid with a victory, but wouldn’t begrudge a draw as they would heavily fancy their chances back at home in front of a buoyant and excited Anfield crowd.

 

Liverpool are capable of retaining Atletico Madrid, while the absence of Torres means Liverpool themselves won’t be as potent in front of goal. Backing the draw looks a wise approach to this game.

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

Atletico Madrid – 2.50 Bet365

Draw – 3.25 WilliamHill

Liverpool – 2.88 Boylesports