EC - Atletico 1 - 0 Liverpool ; Forlan curse haunts Reds
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This shambles of a club make even Liverpool look well-run: Atletico Madrid linger in Real shadow
Ten years: the amount of time Atletico have gone without beating Real
Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool
Thursday, 22 April 2010
Channel 61 Football Frenzy : 3:00am - (Fri Morning) (Live)
Europa Cup Semi-Final Game (1st Leg)
Liverpool fans may feel they deserve better from the people running their club but when it comes to unrewarded loyalty and massive potential ruined by gross incompetence their rivals tonight could be European champions.
As the old joke goes - the directors of Atletico Madrid would not be able to organise the proverbial drinking session inside the giant brewery situated alongside the club's crumbling stadium.
There is no doubting the fanaticism of the supporters. The club were relegated from the top flight in Spain for the first time in 2000 and promptly sold 40,000 season tickets. There is even a special room inside the ground where fans can request their ashes be stored in urns bearing the club's crest so as to remain loyal beyond the grave.
But shambolic mismanagement has usually been the reward for such eternal dedication. 'Why do we support Atletico?' says the child to his father in one of the famous adverts produced every year in honour of those long-suffering supporters.
Atletico have gone 10 years without beating great rivals Real Madrid and yet always seem to do Real the begrudging favour of beating Barcelona.
They scrapped their youth system just as a 13-year-old kid called Raul was coming through the ranks, therefore allowing him to join Real.
They have not won the league since 1996 and, although their haul of nine titles is the third best in Spain, it is small fare compared to Real's 31.
Slipped through their fingers: Raul came through the youth system at Atletico
This season's tilt for the title began in typically self-destructive fashion when they sold right back John Heitinga on the last day of the transfer window to Everton, leaving coach Abel Resino no time to find a replacement. Not that finding one would have been his job any way.
Just like richer neighbours Real, Atletico don't tend to let the coach anywhere near the player-buying process.
After a poor start Resino soon became the 12th managerial casualty of the last decade. Atletico compiled a short-list of replacements but so poisonous is the chalice that they got down to number seven before Quique Sanchez Flores stepped in.
Old adversary: Ex-United striker Diego Forlan
There has since been a small improvement in league form, although they are still known as the only team in Spain who take the weekends off. Courtesy of midweek form in knockout competitions they find themselves in the Spanish cup final and tonight one step from the Europa League final.
It is a step they are capable of taking because, while they possess none of the consistency necessary in the league, they can raise themselves for one-off games and the crowd in their creaking Vicente Calderon stadium, which they are due to leave in 2012, will roar them on tonight with an Anfield-esque atmosphere.
Fans will hope a rickety defence can hold firm. Centre half Alvaro Dominguez has been their steadiest defender this season but he was hauled off after 25 minutes at the weekend after a mistake led to a goal. Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi has been their second best defender but in the same defeat he tried to dribble out of defence and conceded the second goal.
An all-star attack of Sergio 'Kun' Aguero and Liverpool's old adversary Diego Forlan occasionally cover the multitude of defensive sins and it is Liverpool's good luck that Aguero is suspended. He will be hoping Atletico stay in the tie so he can shine at Anfield in the second leg.
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DIEGO FORLAN returned to haunt Liverpool last night.
The ex-Manchester United striker scored twice in a 2-1 win at Anfield 7½ years ago.
And he stuck it to the Reds, who sorely missed injured Fernando Torres, here.
This Europa League semi-final proved a nightmare but boss Rafa Benitez believes his side can fight back in Thursday's Anfield return - even without Torres.
Benitez said: "In the past we have come from behind in the first leg before to reach finals, so we are quite positive.
"We have already come from behind against Benfica and Lille, as well as other times in our history, so we are confident we will do the same.
"I would have loved to have attacked more and created more but without Fernando that was difficult.
"We've proved we can score goals, we have to get the result - and we believe we can do that."
Forlan's scuffed ninth-minute winner came after a catalogue of defensive clangers.
But Benitez was left cursing a disallowed Yossi Benayoun strike.
Benitez added: "I was disappointed with the goal we conceded.
"And although I haven't seen the goal which was ruled out, the player said he was onside."
Kop keeper Pepe Reina made sure Liverpool's trek to Spain did not end in complete disaster by denying Simao and Tomas Ujfalusi in the second half.
Reina said: "It was important we kept the tie alive. It will be difficult in the second leg but if any team can do it - and with our supporters behind us - it's Liverpool."
Atletico boss Quique Sanchez Flores admitted: "Liverpool only lost 1-0 even though they were at their worst. So we can't be too confident."
The Reds had to make a 1,300-mile hike over 24 hours to get to Madrid after flights were grounded because of the volcanic ash cloud over Europe.
They returned to Merseyside by plane last night.
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well cant write off liverpool yet..
from the previous knockout round..they always lose at away game but winning comfortably in their home game...
hope to c Fulham in the finals though -
ya
wa
Liverpool, Barcelona, Lyon all lost away
onli fulham draw