UEFA Cup: Athletico Madrid vs. Aberdeen

Athletico’s Calderon stadium has in recent weeks become synonymous with goals. It has seen more goals this season that at any other ground in the world, with Athletico scoring thirty goals in the ten matches played there. Of course, they have also conceded eleven in the same period, but the local fans are becoming a little spoilt. Forty one goals in ten games is pretty good value for money by anyone’s standards, and this success has seen them shoot up the league table to fifth spot, just a point from a Champions League place. So far in this current edition of the UEFA cup, which is Athletico’s first participation for eight years, the Spanish team has played one match in their group stage, drawing three goals apiece away to Lokomotiv Moscow. They are now third in group B after just one game, five points behind Greek side Panathinaikos, who have played two games and won them both.

Aberdeen have also played two, but their first UEFA cup outing ended in defeat at the hands of Panathinaikos by three goals to nil. The point the Scottish club picked up in their second game was a one-one draw against the Russian club.

Athletico’s strikers are in red hot form at the moment, and you can expect to see a couple of goals at least in this match. The seventeen year old Argentinean ‘El Kun’ Agüero is getting better and better with each game, and he is more than likely to put one away against the Scots. The real engine though behind Atheltico’s great current form has been the reappearance of Aguero’s compatriot, midfielder Maxi Rodriguez. He injured his knee while playing a friendly international against Spain some eight months ago, and has only been back in his club squad for little over a month. During that tme, though, we have seen him take the reins of the team and has put in some outstanding performances.

Aberdeen are really going to have to watch the Maxi Rodriguez, as well as a couple of other great players, including Raul Garcia.  As for the Scottish club, they go into this game after losing their last two Scottish Premier league matches, including a pretty awful four one away defeat to Hearts. They are now seventh in a league of twelve and could do with some European football to take their minds off their domestic league problems.

I am going to have to go for Athletico in this one. I don’t think Aberdeen have either the squad or the experience and get anything out of this game, but if Athletico coach Javier Aguirre decides to rest some of his key players, they might be lucky and get a draw.

Prediction: home win (3-2)