ATLETICO MADRID WIN EUROPA LEAGUE: Diego Forlan the two goal hero!

Atletico Madrid 2 - 1 Fulham

(1-0) 31' Forlan, (1-1) 38' Davies, (2-1) 116' Forlan

Atletico Madrid ended 48 years of hurt to land the Europa League in Hamburg, defeating English side Fulham 2-1. Diego Forlan was the two goal hero, striking the first of the match after 30 minutes and leaving it late to grab the winner, just four minutes from the end of extra time. The Uruguayan has saved his best for Europe this season, with the English bearing the brunt of his razor-sharp finishing. Call it revenge after his barren spell at Manchester United, but the hitman has scored crucial goals against Liverpool and Fulham, almost single-handedly driving Atleti to Euro glory. But this was no one-man-show. Forlan was aided by an electric performance from Sergio Agüero and solid displays from youngsters Dominguez and David de Gea, as Atleti overcame a resolute Fulham side to snatch the trophy just as the dreaded penalty shootout was approaching. 

You have to take your proverbial hat off to Fulham, who have been nothing short of an absolute revelation in this tournament. Mohamed Al Fayeds team refuse to back down from a fight, taking little time to claw themselves back into the final with an equaliser through Welshman Simon Davies. Zoltan Gera and Dickson Etuhu put in admirable shifts, but they were hampered early in the second half as their menacing focal point, Bobby Zamora, was forced off injured, leaving them glaringly short of presence up front. Atletico carried the greater threat throughout, especially when 'El Kun' grabbed hold of the ball. The Argentine was a constant menace for Brede Hangeland and Aaron Hughes, and it was their failure to deal with his incisive runs that ultimately cost them. It was desparately sad for the neutral to see Roy Hodgson and his unfancied team of veterans fall at the last hurdle, but Fulham more than contributed to what was a hotly contested final, dominated by two imposing defences. They simply lacked the class and ruthlessness of Agüero and Forlan.

There have been some miserable moments down the years for Atleti; a perpetual suffering as the club hurdled crisis after crisis. Yet it makes moments like this even sweeter. The Neptune Fountain finally got the celebration it's been lacking since 1962. The man who has turned it all around at the Vicente Calderon, Quique Sanches Florez, was flung in the air by his ecstatic players in the frenzied celebrations after Antonio Lopez lifted the trophy; a clear sign of their admiration for the former Valencia coach. The job Quique has done since he arrived early  this season to replace Abel Resino simply cannot be underestimated. Back on October 23rd he entered into an undignified mess. Seven months later they have the Europa League in the cabinet and a Copa del Rey final to look forward to in one weeks time. He has etched himself a place in Atleti folklore.

So a massive congratulations to Atletico Madrid and all their fiercely loyal supporters, who have waited almost half a century for another taste of European silverware. On to the Camp Nou for Round two.

Atletico Madrid v Fulham: Europa League Final Preview

Tonight, 24 years later, Atletico Madrid will once again fight for their second European title as they take on Roy Hodgsons Fulham in Hamburg. Some posers as we preview the match: Will we see the same Perea that lead the defensive line so admirably against Liverpool? Can Sergio Agüero and Diego Forlan fire Atleti to glory? Will Atletis defence cope with the under-rated front four of Bobby Zamora, Damien Duff, Zoltan Gera and Simon Davies? One thing that Atletico simply cannot do is underestimate this Fulham team; a team few in the Atleti squad had probably heard of when the first ball was kicked in this seasons Europa League. 

Fulham have contrived to knock out the favourites (Juventus), the holders (Shaktar Donetsk) and the team whose ground will host the final (Hamburg). It would appear destiny is on the side of the Londoners but that will count for nothing as the two sides lock horns in little under two hours time. Perea will need to be prepared for physical battle with Bobby Zamora. The Atleti full-backs, most likely Ujfalusi and Antonio Lopez, cannot lose concentration for one moment against the pace and trickery of Duff and Davies. Assuncao will need to follow Danny Murphys every move; the creative force behind Hodgsons team. Then they can let the class and firepower of Agüero and Forlan to shoot them to glory. It promises to be electric, with the two teams desparate to make their mark on the inaugural Europa League final. To all Atletico fans, especially the guys over at MadridAtleticos: The best of luck.

Check out an in-depth preview for the final HERE at MadridAtleticos!

Europa League: Atletico win Battle of Spain and face Liverpool in the Semis

Atletico Madrid won through the Battle of Spain to book their place in the semi-final of the Europa League where they will meet Liverpool and former hero Fernando Torres. The match failed to live up to the five star billing, as Atlético just about shaded a disappointingly dull first half. Valencia perked up after the break, but only really began to exert any real pressure within the last ten minutes with David Villa smashing a shot against the crossbar as Valencia came desparately close to the goal that would have sent them through in an enthralling finale.

Unai Emery threw on the big man Nicola Zigic and the beanpole made all the difference. Imperious in the air, the giant Serb won absolutely everything thrown up towards him. Then with 86 minutes on the clock, controversy struck. Vicente whipped the ball into the box, and with Zigic a yard from the goalline and odds on to nod in, he had his shirt ripped apart by Juanito, in what was about as clear a penalty as you will ever see. If I were a Valencia fan I would be livid, and Unai Emery certainly wasn't best pleased with Florian Meyers decision, with his remonstrations earning him a red card in the aftermath. I honestly can't see this six referee experiment continuing after this tournament, cause not one of those who stand by the area has the courage to make a match-changing decision. Has anyone seen them do anything?

Although Valencia will feel aggrieved, Atlético deserved to go through on the balance of the two ties. They say you make your luck in football and their lack of adventure in the first 80 minutes of this match cost them dearly. That said, they were denied miraculously on numerous occasions as the match drew to a close by that man David De Gea who is rapidly making a name for himself in the Vicente Calderon. Yet another Spanish keeper throwing his name in the hat for that infamous third goalkeeping spot in Spains World Cup squad.

So those long-suffering fans finally have a European semi final to celebrate 11 years later. Liverpool await in the semis, with two of Europes most passionate sets of fans ready to lock horns two years after their eventful Champions League clashes in 2008. I'd like to send my congratulations to the boys over at MadridAtleticos, who will no doubt be celebrating their teams achievement in Madrid over the weekend! It's been an eventful season in the red and white half of the capital, but incredibly they're now only one step from the Europa League final in Hamburg. Arise Sir Quique.

Atletico Madrid on the charge

Say it quietly, but Atlético Madrid could well be a force to be reckoned with as we enter the business end of the season, and it might even yield a trophy or two. The last few weeks (let's pretend that miserable defeat to Almeria never happened) have seen the men from the Vicente Calderon sweep aside one of the finest Barcelona sides La Liga has ever seen; leave the footballing equivalent of hell with a stunning win that has them among the favourites for the UEFA Europa League; and they have just thrashed a Valencia team that have been the best of the rest as Real Madrid and Barca negotiate their own personal battle at the top.

Much credit has to go to Quique Sanchez Flores, who inherited an absolute mess, but has turned it around in only four months. He has instilled confidence into a squad that was on its knees, through sheer hard work on the training pitch and if Marca is to be believed, through borrowing some famous words by Al Pacino in 'Any Given Sunday'. The victory against Barcelona could easily have been put down to the famous Jekyl and Hyde nature of this enigmatic football club, but the manner in which they knocked out Galatasaray in the fearsome Ali Yemi Sen Stadium, and then systematically dismantled a rejuvenated Valencia (it could so easily have been 7 or 8 that day), shows that Atlético mean business.

Jose Antonio Reyes has also been instrumental in this upsurge (again this has to be down to Quique who nurtured Reyes back to form at Benfica last year), with some sparkling performances on the wing, which has helped Diego Forlán and Sergio Agüero to finally rediscover their midas touch infront of goal. Winter signing Tiago has been a revelation in the middle of the park, which has also taken some pressure off Raul Garcia and Assuncao. Bar the odd mishap, Perea and Tomas Ujfalusi might just be getting the knack of defending at the highest level, and David De Gea is beginning to prove he could well be the succesor to Iker Casillas' throne. Quique has grumbled about his sides fixture congestion, but it might well be that 17 matches in only two months has galvanised his team; they've simply had nowhere to hide and have come out fighting.

They look more solid as a unit, and whilst we all knew what Forlan, Agüero, Jurado, Reyes and Simao were capable of, they are finally beginning to gel, as nine goals in their last four matches would suggest. Atlético still need to eradicate silly laps of concentration at the back and to motivate themselves for all matches and not just those against champagne opposition. But if they manage to ride this wave of good form into May, they can look forward to the Copa del Rey final, the Europe League run-in and a push for the UEFA spots in La Liga with renewed optimism. They could win or they could lose: but will they win or lose like men? Only time will tell.

Copa del Rey: Atlético Madrid - License to thrill

Atlético Madrid are pure entertainment. The Jekyll and Hyde of Spanish football added another chapter to their colourful past as they achieved what no other team had ever achieved in Copa del Rey history; to come back from a first-leg 3 goal deficit. And in typical Atlético style, they did it hard way. It was looking like that run in the snow had worked wonders when they stormed into a four goal lead, through goals from Aguero (x2), Simao and Ujfalusi. But halfway through the second half, Recreativo pulled a goal back, after the obligatory defensive shocker from Atlético, to lead on away goals. Shortly after, Assuncao received a second yellow for a needless trip from behind and left his team staring at a farcical cup exit. But with a vociferous Vicente Calderon and an animated Quique urging them on, they took the lead in the tie once more as Simao stepped up with seven minutes remaining to curl a sumptuous free kick into the top-right corner to send the 'Mattressmen' flying into the quarters. The last two games have seen them score nine and concede two, and they're my bet to go on and win the cup looking at that draw: Quique deserves a nice manly pat on the back.

 

Copa del Rey Results 14.01.10

Atlético Madrid 5 - 1 Recreativo Huelva (Atlético through 5-4 on aggregate)
Mallorca 3 - 1 Rayo Vallecano (Mallorca through 4-3 on aggregate)

Copa del Rey Quarter-Final Draw:

Deportivo La Coruña v Sevilla

Mallorca v Getafe

Atlético Madrid v Celta

Racing Santander v Osasuna

La Liga Photo of the Day: Snow joke for Atletico Madrid

Something tells me they´ll try harder against Recreativo in the second leg.....