La Liga Review

Winning Start For New Zaragoza Boss

Result: Real Zaragoza 2 Atletico Madrid 1

Real Zaragoza came from behind to record a crucial 2-1 win at the Romareda against Atletico Madrid this evening. Simao Sabrosa gave the visitors the lead after 26 minutes, but the hosts levelled when Pablo Ibanez diverted Gabi's free-kick into his own net later in the first half. Diego Milito secured all three points for the home side with a late penalty that ends a run of four straight defeats for Zaragoza in La Liga.

Zaragoza - Atletico Madrid Preview

Match Preview and Team News

Fourth placed Atletico Madrid travel to fourth from bottom Zaragoza in Saturday's only other La Liga fixture…

Atletico Madrid - Barcelona Preview

Match Preview and Team News

On Saturday Barcelona travel to the Vicente Calderon for what is always a tough game against Atletico Madrid. Just two points below Madrid, Barcelona will be hoping that their recent league form can prompt a repeat of last season's 6-0 win in the same fixture. Ronaldinho returns to the Barcelona squad, while Aguero shakes off his injury in time to make the Atletico squad....

Atletico Madrid v Bolton

UEFA Cup Match Preview

Atletico Madrid coach Javier Aguirre has demanded that 18 "warriors" turn up for his side when they face Bolton on Thursday, but he will have to cope with a considerable number of absentees, most notably Kun Aguero. The Premiership outfit have a slight advantage after El-Hadji Diouf gave Bolton a 1-0 lead during last week's first leg at the Reebok Stadium...

Atletico Madrid Anger Bolton

Atletico Madrid v Bolton Preview

Gary Megson is less than impressed with Atletico Madrid's 'strange' behaviour ahead of Thursday's UEFA Cup tie. The Bolton manager told Sky Sports that "There's been a lot going on but we just want to get over there and hopefully come back with a good result."

Ill-feeling between Bolton and Atletico seems to stem from the controversy surrounding Sergio Aguero’s dismissal for spitting in the fiery first-leg clash at the Reebok.

Events took a strange turn yesterday when Atletico posted Bolton's full trip itinerary - including their flight number and arrival time in Madrid, plus the name of their hotel and training schedule - on their official club website. This has led to allegations regarding the Spaniards' level of sportsmanship in the British media this week.

Aguero aiming for Europe

Sergio Aguero has sent a new year message to the fans of Atletico Madrid and hopes to buile upon his impressive start to his La Liga career by improving in 2007.

“I wish the very best for the fans. I really hope we can celebrate together at the end of the season, at the very least, by qualifying for Europe.”

And on a personal level, are you happy with 2006?

“Personally I’m pretty pleased. I’m conscious that I’ve got to stay calm. I’ve not been here at Atletico for very long and I know that I can achieve great things; I want this team to be competing at the top and I know that the titles will come, the fans deserve it and it’s a part of this clubs great history”

Is the best of Kun Aguero still to come?

“Sure…You haven’t seen the best of me yet. I bring something to the team and I’m taking things a step at a time. The best is yet to come. I can get a lot better in 2007 and I’ve a lot more to give on the pitch. I’m relaxed at the moment and I have to stay focused on some aspects of my game if I’m going to keep growing. I’m very happy here at Atletico and I knew that this was the right club for me. I’ve been treated brilliantly since I arrived…by everybody, the club, my team mates everyone.”

One of the high points must surely have been the goal against Levante in the Copa del Rey?

“The goal against Levante came after a very quick passage of play. It was right at the end of the match and we were close to going out of the competition…..but then, quick as a flash…it was in! I Was really happy knowing that we had thirty minutes to get us through to the next round of the cup. It went to penalties in the end and that was a bit of a lottery. But we did it and it was an extraordinary feeling”

What about Atletico. They haven’t been at their best lately, have they?

We’re doing OK at the moment. We’ve gone through to the next round of the cup that was vital. We also got a draw against Barcelona which was fundamental that we finish December with a positive result and in a Champions league position. The team has evolved since the start of the competition. In every game we try to give our very best and fight for a win”

Same old song for Atletico Madrid?

“Vuelve la misma cancion” after Atletico went down 0-1 at home top Levante in the Copa Del Rey last night.

It would seem that one of the certainties in Spanish football is that Atletico Madrid will always fail to live up to expectations. Disappointment and frustrated dreams seem to attach themselves to that club year after year, after year.

This year it looked like it might be different. The club made some terrific signings and, under Aguirre, started the season with some great results. They showed a previously unheard of grit and determination to grind out results even when the odds were against them. We started to believe that, perhaps, this year was going to be different.

Up until a fortnight ago, Atletico had picked up a couple of injuries but nothing more than any other club might consider par for the course. Then disaster struck. Within days of each other Maxi Rodriguez and Martin Petrov suffered cruciate ligament injuries that will see them out of action for at least six months.

The situation is compounded by the fact that the pair of them have been instrumental in Atletico’s success this season and both had been creating, and scoring, goals. Maxi on the right wing and Petrov down the left wing had been key to the team’s tactical formation. Aguirre not only has to contend with the loss of his leading source of goals, but will also have to adjust his formation and tactics.

Aguirre then suffered a further setback after losing Mista to injury during the weekend defeat to Depor. The former Valencia striker is expected to be out for at least a month. Petrov, Maxi and Mista had scored half of Atletico’s ten goals scored so far this season.

Atletico Madrid v Valencia: Preview

Saturday 21:00. Sky sports

In what is undoubtedly the game of the weekend, two of La Liga’s potential challengers go head to head. Atletico Madrid host Valencia on Saturday evening in a match that will be seen as a measure of both club’s progress this season.

Reyes to Atletico Madrid?

Martin Petrov could be the key to the potential transfer of Reyes to Atletico Madrid.

The ever reliable Madrid daily AS, tongue firmly in cheek, is reporting that representatives from Atletico Madrid are in London negotiating with Arsenal to secure the services of Jose Antonio Reyes. However, in spite of the offer being slightly better than the offer made by Real Madrid for the player, they are still some way short of Arsenal’s valuation. Atletico have offered 13 million euros and Arsenal are demanding 18 million.

Petrov off

Getafe 0 – Atletico Madrid 0

Martin Petrov’s red card last night adds to Atletico’s pre-season anxieties. The Bulgarian winger, sent off in the 25th minute may well have played his last game in Madrid after a show of ill discipline that demonstrates all is not well between the player and his club.

Aguirre said of Petrov "If he'd done that in a league game I would have made him walk back to Madrid"

Petrov to be sold?

After recent reports in Spain that Javier Aguirre considered Martin Petrov to be a key member of his squad, it is now claimed that the Bulgarian is very likely to be sold. The winger has been identified as the player who will be sacrificed in order to finance Atletico Madrid’s continued spending.

Madrid sports daily AS is reporting that Petrov's performance in the Teresa Herrera tournament was enough to convince Aguirre that he can afford to sell the player. The paper claims that Petrov has failed to convince the new Atletico coach during preseason and that the game against Milan was the player’s last chance to prove his worth. AS is claiming that ,following the match, Aguirre asked the club to do all that it can to sign Delporte from Osasuna as a replacement for the left wing.

Atletico to continue spending?

Just days after signing Jurado from Real Madrid, Atletico look set to continue their spending spree with the Madrid press reporting that the club are close to agreeing a deal for Maniche. In the last 24 hours Gil Marin has confirmed that the club will not be signing Guti from Real Madrid, stating "If we don't sign Maniche, then we will be working hard on signing another midfielder who we value, and that is not Guti"

The Portuguese midfielder can offer attacking options anywhere across the midfield and was a star player in Porto's Champions league and UEFA cup triumphs under Jose Mourinho. His career has stalled since joining Dynamo Moscow however and the player is reported to be very keen on a move to Atletico Madrid.

The player would make a fine addition to an already very impressive midfield line up at Madrid and it would appear that the only thing holding up the deal would be the difference between the two club's valuation of the player; Moscow are said to be holding out for 12 million euros whilst Atletico are unwilling to pay over 9 million.