Wounded Real seek King's Cup tonic
Reuters - Tuesday 18 January 2011, 01:00
MADRID - Real Madrid can give themselves
the perfect tonic to help banish the effects of Sunday's
frustrating 1-1 La Liga draw at Almeria - eliminate city rivals
Atletico from the King's Cup.
Jose Mourinho's side, reeling after falling four points
behind arch rivals Barcelona in the title race, have a 3-1
advantage from last week's quarter-final, first leg at the
Bernabeu and are chasing their first Cup triumph since 1993.
Success across town at the Calderon on Thursday would set up
a last four clash against holders Sevilla or Villarreal, who
drew 3-3 last week in Villarreal and play later on Tuesday.
Atletico's chances of a comeback have been hurt by an injury
to Argentina forward Sergio Aguero.
"We know how much games against Real Madrid mean to our fans
and our players," Atletico coach Quique Sanchez Flores said
after his side claimed a morale-boosting 3-0 victory against
Real Mallorca in La Liga on Monday to end a poor run of form.
"We have to go out and score quickly. It's about more than
just getting through to the semi-finals."
Atletico have not won a Madrid derby in more than a decade
and conceded a farcical third goal late in the first leg that
makes their task on Thursday that much harder.
Real have progressed to the next round in all five previous
domestic cup ties in which they have won the first leg 3-1.
RESPECT REQUIRED
While Real have one foot in the last four, Barcelona are
virtually assured of their spot in the semi-finals.
Pep Guardiola's side, who set a club record of 28 matches
unbeaten in all competitions on Sunday, thumped second-division
leaders Real Betis 5-0 in the first leg, although the coach is
taking nothing for granted.
"We have to prepare ourselves very well mentally," Guardiola
said at a news conference after Barca's 4-1 La Liga win against
Malaga on Sunday.
"I don't want any lack of respect shown to an opponent as
strong as Betis. We have to take the match very seriously
because there could be surprises."
Almeria have a slight advantage over Deportivo La Coruna in the
other quarter-final tie after they beat the Galicians 1-0 at
home last week.
If they can build on Sunday's fine home draw against Real
Madrid and go through they will face Barca in the last four.