Atletico breathe sigh of relief after draw
Reuters - Thursday 23 October 2008, 10:07
MADRID - The game and the atmosphere did
not live up to its billing but there was relief all round at
Atletico Madrid after they earned a 1-1 draw at home to
Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday.
The Primera Liga side came into the match having suffered
three consecutive league defeats, the last at home to city
rivals Real Madrid on Saturday, and with their coach Javier
Aguirre starting to feel the heat.
A timid opening period from Atletico gifted Liverpool
complete dominance and Robbie Keane's 14th-minute opener.
They improved after the break with the introduction of
talismanic striker Sergio Agureo, and Simao Sabrosa grabbed the
equaliser seven minutes from time.
"It was important not to lose at home again," said Aguirre.
"We'll have to see if this point is good for us in the future."
Portuguese goalscorer Simao added: "Getting a draw is a good
result because it comes after some games that weren't so good.
This is going to give us confidence."
The Madrid club were very much in the spotlight after the
problems that marred their last Champions League home game --
the 2-1 win against Olympique Marseille.
On October 1, local police clashed with Marseille supporters in
the stadium, and there were accusations of racist abuse from the
Atletico fans directed at visiting players.
Last week UEFA punished them with a two-match stadium ban,
ordering them to play at a venue 300 km away from the capital,
which was temporarily lifted for Wednesday's encounter after
Liverpool complained that fans had already made travel
arrangements.
Spanish media reported a stronger police presence than at
the Marseille match, but there was none of the tension that
characterised the previous encounter.
Although the Champions League anthem was whistled when the
teams walked out, with some home fans turning their backs, there
was little sign of animosity between the two groups of fans
inside or outside the Calderon.
Atletico president Enrique Cerezo told Canal Plus television
afterwards: "There have not been any incidents because both sets
of fans have behaved very well."
Atletico and Liverpool continue to top Group D with seven
points from three games. Atletico visit third-placed Villarreal
in the Primera Liga on Sunday.
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