MADRID: Last season’s Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid are in desperate need of three points to kick-start their European campaign when Italian champions Juventus visit the Spanish capital today.
La Liga champions Atletico were surprisingly beaten 3-2 in their first group match away to Olympiakos a fortnight ago, conceding as many goals as they did in the whole of the group stage last season in the process.
However, Diego Simeone’s men appear to have rediscovered their defensive solidity in the past week with back-to-back wins and clean sheets, including an impressive 4-0 thrashing of the previously unbeaten Sevilla at the weekend.
Simeone’s return to the touchline after a six-game ban in all competitions appeared to galvanise the team and supporters alike, and the Argentine has called on the fans to recreate the atmosphere for the visit of Juventus.
“The atmosphere is what we need in all the games at the Calderon,” he said.
“There was a perfect communion between what the team offered and what the fans experience in the stadium. It felt like there was a mountain of us on the pitch.” Despite Atletico’s Champions League struggles in Greece, they have managed to beat Real Madrid twice already this season in the league and Spanish Super Cup.
And Simeone believes those games should give his side heart that they can take down Massimiliano Allegri’s side, who have won all six of their games so far this season.
“There is a difference when you are competing across a whole season compared to the situation in one game.
“When we play against Madrid, Barcelona or Juventus it is clear we have a chance because it is just one game.”
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger has challenged Arsenal to kick-start their spluttering campaign with a crucial victory in today’s clash against Turkish giants Galatasaray.
Wenger’s side have frustrated their manager with a series of flawed displays during a run of one win from their last six matches in all competitions and the Gunners are desperate to stop the rot when Galatasaray visit the Emirates Stadium.
Instead of kicking on since qualifying for the Champions League group stages with a 1-0 victory over another Turkish side Besiktas in late August, the Gunners have become stuck in a rut.
The disappointing sequence includes a comprehensive dismantling in a 2-0 loss against Borussia Dortmund -- a scoreline that flattered the lacklustre Gunners -- in their Champions League Group D opener.
And the latest misstep came against north London rivals Tottenham on Saturday as Arsenal failed to turn their territorial dominance into goals and had to rely on a late equaliser from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to salvage a 1-1 draw.
To make matters worse, Wenger’s midfield was decimated by injuries at the weekend, with Wales dynamo Aaron Ramsey, captain Mikel Arteta and England international Jack Wilshere all limping off.
Ramsey and Arteta will miss Galatasaray’s visit, while Wenger hopes Wilshere can recover from his ankle problem in time to feature.
Despite the injuries, Wenger knows a win over Galatasaray is essential if Arsenal are to avoid putting themselves in an awkward position in their battle to qualify for the knockout stages of Europe’s elite club competition.
AFP
