Europa final promises goals from Spanish rivals
Reuters - Monday 07 May 2012, 01:59
With potent attacking talent in
abundance on both sides, Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao
should serve up a Europa League final to remember on Wednesday
and remind the continent that Spain is not just about Real
Madrid or Barcelona.
The 2010 champions Atletico have won 11 successive matches
to reach the final while fearless Athletic, who only field
players of Basque origin, have lit up the competition under
eccentric Argentine coach Marcelo Bielsa with their
possession-based style that has drawn comparisons with Barca.
Athletic made the rest of Europe take notice when they beat
Manchester United home and away in the last 16, then accounted
for Schalke 04 in the quarter-finals with an attacking intensity
that the Bundesliga side, like United before them, could not
handle.
Powerful centre forward Fernando Llorente's physical
presence is sure to cause problems for an Atletico defence that
is vulnerable in the air, particularly at set pieces, while
versatile attacking midfielder Iker Muniain, only 19 and
attracting the attention of bigger clubs, pulls the strings.
If Atletico pay too much attention to Muniain and Llorente,
then they risk being punished by the equally talented Ibai
Gomez, Markel Susaeta and Javi Martinez.
"We will try to play naturally, with a lack of inhibition,
because this will bring us closer to a victory," said Bielsa,
who took the helm at the north-coast club at the beginning of
the season.
"Throughout every game, regardless of their importance, I
haven't seen a problem with confidence or anxiety yet that the
team were not able to resolve themselves."
IMPROVED STEADILY
Atletico, who have improved steadily under their former
player and Argentina captain Diego Simeone since he took over in
December, also boast a potent strikeforce in summer signings
Adrian Lopez and Colombian Radamel Falcao, who hit the winner
for Porto in last year's final.
After comfortably winning their group following a journey
that began in the third qualifying round back in July, Atletico
under Simeone have knocked out Lazio, Besiktas, Hannover 96 and
La Liga rivals Valencia.
Simeone's side will try to match Athletic for intensity and
not allow their opponents time on the ball.
Gabi is likely to replace the suspended Tiago, sent off in
the second leg against Valencia, alongside Mario Suarez in
central midfield.
"The sides are very evenly matched. I haven't spoken to
Bielsa but I have a great admiration for him," Simeone said.
"It's an important event for everyone. A moment of great
pride. Atletico are a cup team and another final is something
for the fans to enjoy."
Simeone and Bielsa know each other well, with Simeone
playing the last 30 of his 106 international appearances during
Bielsa's six-year run at the helm between 1998 and 2004.
NOT SPOKEN
Bielsa said he had not spoken directly to Simeone, only
through his opposite number's assistant, another Argentine he
knows well, former international goalkeeper German Burgos.
"We have agreed not to speak until a month after the final.
Burgos acts as the intermediary," Bielsa said.
"I want to win the final, regardless of whether two players
I used to coach are in the other dugout or not."
Athletic have never won a European trophy, their only
previous final coming in 1977 when they lost the UEFA Cup
showpiece match to Juventus.
Each side has a win apiece in their clashes in La Liga this
season. Llorente scored twice in a 3-0 home win for Athletic in
October but Falcao's double secured Atletico a 2-1 victory at
their Calderon home in March.
The last time two Spanish teams contested the final of the
competition, formerly known as the UEFA Cup, was in 2007 when
Sevilla beat Espanyol on penalties after a 2-2 draw.
Probable teams:
Atletico Madrid: 13-Thibaut Courtois, 23-Miranda, 6-Filipe
Luis, 2-Diego Godin, 20-Juanfran, 14-Gabi, 22-Diego, 4-Mario
Suarez, 11-Arda Turan, 7-Adrian Lopez, 9-Radamel Falcao.
Athletic Bilbao: 1-Gorka Iraizoz, 15-Andoni Iraola,
5-Fernando Amorebieta, 3-Jon Aurtenetxe, 24-Javi Martinez,
14-Markel Susaeta, 8-Ander Iturraspe, 21-Ander Herrera, 19-Iker
Muniain, 9-Fernando Llorente, 28-Ibai Gomez.