This game has draw written all over it. Athletico Madrid take on Valladolid trying to get back into the swing of the league after the international break, and really need a win after picking up just one point from their last two matches. Typical Athletico, really. Just when they seem to think things are going great they somehow mess it all up and have to start again.
History says that Athletico have the game in their hands. They have beaten Valladolid eleven times at home, while the visitors have come out on top six times. The last –and only- draw was some fourteen years ago, in 1993, so it’s about time we had another.
Athletico coach Javier Aguirre is slowly getting his players back from international duty, and so far hasn’t had any injuries to worry about which is so often the case these days. His rival, Valladolid coach José Luis Mendilibar, doesn’t have that problem, as his squad is made up of just four non-Spanish players, none who played any part in the recent international. The Valladolid coach is looking optimistic, saying things like ‘it wouldn’t be a surprise if Valladolid beat Athletico Madrid’. Who can blame him? The La Liga new comers are having a not too bad season so far. They have picked up three wins and four draws and know the teams below them are a lot worse. So Valladolid will go to the Calderon stadium to take on Athletico without any pressure, which is precisely the opposite as the hosts. If Athletico lose any points here their fans are going to give them a very hard time of it.
Diego Forlan and ‘El Kun’ Agüero are set to partner each other in attack but they aren’t the problem. That lies in midfield and defense, with the Portuguese Maniche still not really fitting in to this Athletico side.
I’m going for a draw here in this match. Both teams are going to cancel one another out, what with Athletico’s poor defending and Valladolid’s shyness in front of goal.
Prediction: Draw (1-1)