Home>News Center>Sports
         
 

Atletico hope for cup success to salvage season
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-10 20:31

The success of Atletico Madrid's fading season depends on them overturning Osasuna's 1-0 advantage in their King's Cup semi-final second-leg in Madrid on Thursday (1900 GMT), says defender Luis Perea.

"I hope our fans continue to believe in us because it is the last opportunity we have (to qualify for Europe)," the Colombian international told a news conference. "Everything hangs on what we do in this game."

Victory at the Vicente Calderon, followed by a cup final win over either Athletic Bilbao or Real Betis, who play the other semi-final on Wednesday (1900 GMT), is the only direct route to the UEFA Cup realistically left available to them.

Sunday's 2-0 defeat by Deportivo Coruna left them 11th in the Primera Liga, seven points short of sixth place, with three games remaining.

Atletico trail Osasuna thanks to Valdo's goal from the first leg in Pamplona, but the capital club's poor form in front of goal -- they have netted only once in their last six league and cup outings -- leaves the game finely balanced.

"We have to be calm and mentally strong and forget about what has happened recently. We need to score two goals and I am convinced we are going to do it," added Perea.

Atletico will be without defender Juan Velasco, Danish winger Jesper Gronkjaer and striker Salva Ballesta, who are all injured.

Osasuna, who are now safe from relegation in the league, are happy to see Atletico shoulder the burden of expectation.

"Atletico are under a lot of pressure, because this game will determine their season," said Osasuna captain Cesar Cruchaga.

"We have achieved our objective in the league and if we make the final it will be classed as a great season for us."

Osasuna have never appeared in a final.

Midfielders Valdo and Ludovic Delporte have recovered from thigh injuries, but defender Carlos Cuellar, who was sent off in the first leg, is suspended.

SOLD OUT

If goals are hard to come by for Atletico, the second semi-final, level at 0-0, offers the prospect of a few more, as Betis travel to Bilbao with this season's 4-4 league thriller at San Mames still fresh in everyone's minds.

"I would take that result right now because that would put us through," said Betis keeper Antonio Doblas.

Bilbao's past success in this competition -- they have won the King's Cup 23 times -- has seen tickets for the game sold out rapidly, but Doblas does not believe the atmosphere will affect his side.

"We did well against Barcelona in the Nou Camp, and beat Sevilla in the city derby last weekend, so we have proved we can stand the pressure," Doblas added.

Betis are sweating over the fitness of winger Joaquin, who is suffering from a bruised ankle, but will definitely be without injured forward Edu.

Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has called for caution as his side go in search of their first final appearance in 20 years.

"We have to play this game with our heads not our hearts," he said.

The Basques edged the first leg, with defender Asier Del Horno hitting a post with a header, but failed to score despite creating the clearer opportunities.



Juventus edge AC Milan 1-0
Sochaux vs Strasbourg
Sui Feifei
 
  Today's Top News     Top Sports News
 

Most Japanese say shrine visits should stop

 

   
 

Forum brings opportunity to knock

 

   
 

President Hu meets Chirac, Putin in Moscow

 

   
 

Hometown gives Soong a heroic welcome

 

   
 

Police on alert ahead of China-Japan match

 

   
 

RMB speculation fails to materialize

 

   
  China's shuttlers looking to home advantage
   
  Jones and Montgomery not welcome in Europe
   
  Alonso is Formula One's new king, says Irvine
   
  FIFA says North Korea must play Japan in Bangkok
   
  Terry eyes invincible season for Chelsea
   
  MVP Nash to lead Suns against former team
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Barca fans celebrate as team close in on league title
   
Soccer-Atletico sweep to 4-0 win over Sociedad
   
Deportivo stay top despite 2-0 loss
   
Barcelona, Real Sociedad back on track
   
Barcelona, Valencia stay up with leaders
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 国亚洲欧美日韩精品| 天堂√在线中文资源网| 亚洲一区二区三区免费| 97国产免费全部免费观看| 成人做受120秒试看动态图| 亚洲精品**中文毛片| 美女张开腿给男人桶| 在线免费h视频| 一区二区三区电影在线观看| 日本乱子伦xxxx| 乳孔被撑开乳孔改造里番| 欧美成人片一区二区三区| 亚洲精品欧美日韩| 青青操免费在线观看| 国产欧美日产激情视频| 18到20岁女人一级毛片| 国产高潮国产高潮久久久| av网站免费线看| 好猛好紧好硬使劲好大国产| 五月天婷亚洲天综合网精品偷| 欧美日韩色黄大片在线视频| 回复术士的重来人生第一季樱花动漫| 黑人巨茎大战白人美女| 青青草国产精品| 国产视频你懂的| 97精品在线视频| 夜来香高清在线观看| 久久天天躁狠狠躁夜夜2020一| 欧美一级特黄啪啪片免费看 | 打桩机和他宝贝124是哪一对| 久久人人爽人人爽人人片AV高清 | www亚洲精品少妇裸乳一区二区| 成人毛片免费观看视频| 丰满少妇被猛烈进入无码| 日本免费a级毛一片| 久久午夜夜伦鲁鲁片无码免费| 日韩中文字幕高清在线专区| 久久精品国产大片免费观看| 日韩超碰人人爽人人做人人添| 五月综合色婷婷在线观看| 最近中文字幕在线的mv视频|