Atl. Madrid - Elche Today, 18 Apr 2014, 20:30 Elche are doing extremely badly away, but despite playing the leading team today, Escriba believes they do stand a chance of at least making it more difficult for the home team Atletico got extremely close to winning the Spanish title last weekend and what seemed like very a unlikely scenario ahead of this season is now the reality. Things were set in motion last Saturday when Barcelona lost in Granada unexpectedly. Atletico used it to get four points ahead of them and Real after a win against Getafe. They are three points ahead of Real actually, but since Atletico did better in head to head games, Real will have to win at least four points more in the last five rounds in order to get ahead of Atletico. Diego Simeone was being cautious when talking about upcoming games throughout the season, but he is now realizing his team are on a verge of a great success: - We are playing a day before the competition, and our intention is to get further ahead on the table. Elche are, when it comes to tactics, a well organized team, they have fast wingers, set-pieces are their strongsuit as well. They need the points to help them stay in the league, but realistically, we are focusing on our performance only. Im convinced we will win if we play at the usual level. Atlectios best player Costa was supposed to miss the last game, but he played in the end only to injure his knee after a clash with the goalpost. What seemed like a major injury turned out to be not so serious, meaning he should be in the starting line up today. Only Arda Turan wont still be able to play. There will be some reshuffling with the line up today. Raul Garcia might get a day off to rest for the Champions League match with Chelsea. The coach tried a three-forwards system during the practice session (Lopez, Garcia, Villa), but since that is not Atleticos usual formation, we have to wait and see whether he will decide on such a change in the end. Elche are having a pretty good season, theyre close to securing a position in the first division for the next year. Their problem is a discrepancy in points won home and points won away. Elche tried to so something against Valencia last round in a local derby, but Valencia were simply too strong. Fran Escriba is aware of the fact they face an even toughertask today, but he still has hopes: - We dont intend to forfeit in advance. Were going to go to Vincente Calderon to play a good game and stand up to the leading team in the best possible manner. They are a better-quality team, no doubt about it, but if we play as a team, we can make them struggle. Escriba cant count on Manu del Moral and Edu Alcabar, who have been injured for a while. But, the important midfielder Perez wont be there either. Perez is on loan from Atletico, and his contract stipulates he cant play against them. He could if Elche were to pay 300 thousand euros, but they cannot afford that. Midfielder Cerles Gil, who missed the last round, will be back today. Atl. Madrid - Elche 5/10 1.78 Tip: 1 (AH -1.5) Atl. Madrid - Elche 3/10 2.32 Tip: 1 (AH -2) Atl. Madrid - Elche 1/10 2.88 Tip: 1 (AH -2.5) Atl. Madrid - Elche 1/10 7.50 Tip: 3:0 (CS)
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 11:05:00 +0000
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