Copa del Rey
2013-05-17 - Real Madrid CF vs Atletico Madrid
A Sports Betting Pick by Cruiser
Football : Copa del Rey Final
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Friday 17th May 2013 – Kickoff time 21:30
Match Preview :
Friday night will see the meeting between two Madrid clubs as they contest for the Coppa del Rey Final to be played at the Santiago Bernabeu.
For Atletico Madrid they will want to end a 14 years wait and overcome eternal rivals Real Madrid in their own backyard tonight.Things has changed at the club since Diego Simeone took over in January last year with the side experiencing vast changes.
Atletico Madrid's defence don't concede many goals now and the team has cruised to automatic Champions League qualification for the first time in their history. But if there is one thing they want to change is that they still haven't overcome Real Madrid in a derby clash.
When they met this season in the La Liga, Real Madrid emerged victorious and completed the double over Atletico Madrid and that was also the fourth successive double they did over Diego Simeone side.
Diego Simeone named his starting eleven in the press conference 24 hours before the match, unlike his opposite number Jose Mourinho, and he has all 20 first team players fit and available to him. Radamel Falcao will start upfront and Diego Costa comes back in alongside him to start in attack. Meanwhile, Mario Suarez is set to start as he is being preferred to Tiago.
Simeone has stated that they would give everything in the 90 minutes to try and come out on top and while conceeding that they are better then them, with commitment and humility, everything could change in one game as anything is possible.
Meanwhile Radamel Falcao reiterated his commitment to Atletico Madriud despite the press linking him with Monaco and before that Chelsea. He was quoted as saying:
“I don’t know anything about Monaco, all I’m thinking about is Atlético,” he underlined. “The press have signed me for half of Europe, even after 6 months here they had me transferred, but I’m still here.”
Real Madrid's only absentee will be Raphael Verane. The 20 year ole underwent surgery earlier this week that will see his season come to an end. Apart from him, Mourinho has the rest of his squad to choose from and, unlike in last month’s league clash, will be putting out his best side.
Jose Mourinho has not lost a final for nine years now, with a solitary Portuguese cup defeat with Porto against Benfica back in 2004 the only one of his career so far. For the record, the the ex-Chelsea and Inter Milan manager also has a good record in derbies, and has won all eight meetings with Atletico since taking charge back in 2010.
With widespread speculation linking him to a move back to Chelsea, Mourinho did not attend the press conference ahead of this match. Assistant Aitor Karanka wasn’t there either, so vice-captain Sergio Ramos was there instead. He stated that at the beginning the Coppa del Ray was not important for them, but now it is.
“We all need to help each other and defend this crest until the last minute, and show the fans our love for the team. On the field it is up to us to perform well, and we are all rowing in the same direction: to win.”
It was three years ago that Atletico Madrid played in a cyp final but luck was not on their side as they were beaten by Sevilla 2-0. But the last time they were faced with Real Madrid though was back in 1992, with goals from Paulo Futre and Bernd Schuster sealing a famous 2-0 win in their own backyard.
Atletico Madrid also won in two of their three finals with Real Madrid and they all came in the Santiago Bernabeu. But if Atletico Madrid does win tonight it will be their first win in 17 years and only tenth cup win in total.
Real Madrid will supposedly have the home ground advantage in this tie but the Atletico Madrid fans are know to turn venues such as Barcelona to Bucharest red and white in recent years and the same can be expected once again.
Prediction:
Go for Real Madrid to win and give the 1 ball here.
The Pick :
Real Madrid 3-1 Atletico Madrid
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Take Real Madrid and give the 1 ball away.
