UEFA Cup: FC Copenhagen vs. Athlético Madrid

It’s UEFA cup time again and in form Spanish side Athletico Madrid travel to Denmark hoping to continue where they left off after beating Aberdeen in the last group game. This time though they have stiffer opposition as FC Copenhagen are also having a pretty good season so far. They are currently second in the Danish SAS Ligaen, where they have only lost two games from the eighteen played. In Group B of the UEFA cup league, the Danes are just below Athletico in third place, a point behind, so this match could go quite a way in finding out who is going to qualify for the next round. Athletico coach Javier Aguirre knows the importance of this game and has flown out with his first team squad, only leaving behind the injured goalkeeper Leo Franco, Greek international Seitaridis (also injured) and Portuguese defender Ze Castro. The last two are both habitual in the defense so it has come as something of a relief for Aguirre to get back Colombian international Luis Perea. In their last league outing at the weekend, Athletico comfortable beat Betis football club away from home and precipitated the sacking of Argentinean boss Hector Cuper. Everyone knew it was coming, it was just a case of which club would be the ones to do it. In the end it turned out to be Athletico, who, with a goal each from Raul Garcia and the ever dangerous Diego Forlan, dominated for the full ninety minutes. That makes thirteen wins from twenty games this season with just three defeats, and they are sitting in a Champions League spot. Not surprising then the relaxed but confident looks on the faces of the players as they waited at the airport on Tuesday morning.

Copenhagen lost their first UEFA cup match at home to leaders Panathinaikos by one goal to nil, but in the second game they were able to beat Lokomotiv Moscow away by the same score line. The Danish ligaen title holders need a win here to put themselves in line with the Greek leaders as they have some pretty tough games coming up.

I think Athletico Madrid will be too strong for the Danes here and should take the three points back to Madrid. The Forlan – Agüero partnership just gets better and better and I can quite easily see them winning this group and maybe going all the way to the final. Copenhagen haven’t really come up against any real stiff opposition this season, except Benfica in the Champions League qualifiers which they lost.

Prediction: Away win (1-3)