Real tricky test for Benitez at Atletico
Real Madrid’s Ronaldo (R) beats Malmo’s defender Yoshimar Yotun to the ball in their midweek Uefa Champions League first-leg Group A match at the Swedbank Stadion in Sweden. Ronaldo scored a brace to reach 500 career goals. Photo by AFP
Contending squads Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid will clash in a capital city derby La Liga encounter at the Vicente Calderón Stadium tomorrow.
Los Colchoneros is coming off a heartbreaking 0-1 loss to current league-leader Villarreal at the Estadio El Madrigal last Saturday.
Atleti would have ended up tied with Barcelona at the top spot if they managed to pull off a win against El Submarino Amarillo, but instead they were moved down to the fifth spot. Atletico Madrid’s own player, striker Léo Baptistão, who was on loan to Villarreal scored the winning goal that dropped Diego Simeone’s team.
Meanwhile, Los Blancos settled for a disappointing goalless draw with bottom-three team Malaga at their home stadium of Santiago Bernabéu also last Saturday.
Rafa Benitez’s side totally dominated Los Boquerones the whole match and had 30 shots on goal but still could not get the victory. Los Vikingos even played with a man advantage in the last 13 minutes of the game after Malaga striker Nordin Amrabat was sent off at the 77th due to “violent conduct,” as reported by SkySports.
The two powerhouse teams are looking for redemption in their battle todayy, but Benitez’ scoring duo of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema is expected to prevail.
Defying critics
Jackson Martinez has vowed to silence his critics following a poor start to his career with Atletico Madrid. The Colombia striker has scored just once since completing a big-money move from Porto and cut a frustrated figure in the 2-1 home defeat to Benfica in Wednesday’s Champions League clash.
Martinez believes his overall contribution to the team is not being recognised but he insists he is not affected by negative remarks in the press.
“I try to do my job better and better but the reality is that, if you score goals, it’s good, if not, it’s not good,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what you do, the sacrifice you can make.
“This is part of football, but the critics have never ruined my career, just as praise doesn’t make me arrogant.
“I feel the support of the fans, the coaching staff, I try to do the best I can to make everything go well.
“I’ll continue and try to change the situation. Now we think to [Real] Madrid, and what we need to fix and the good things we can take forward.”
