Having recently received a hero’s welcome on his return home to the Vicente Calderón to help get his beloved Atlético Madrid’s season back on track, Diego Simeone is now preparing himself for a trip back to yet another cherished old hunting ground from his playing days, the Stadio Olimpico. This Thursday ‘El Cholo’, through pure chance, will lead his Rojiblancos out into the Roman caldron to take on his other beloved club, Lazio, in his first European test as a manager in the Europa League.
Much like he is associated with Atleti’s brief run of success in the nineties, the Argentine is also fondly remembered by the blue half of the Italian capital for lifting titles. During his four spell here, between 1999 and 2003, he added a Serie A title, the Italian Cup and the Super Cup to his list of accolades.
Simeone is not the only one psyching himself up for a blast from the past on Thursday night though. Miroslav Klose and Diego will also have to deal with familiar faces from their past, as they face off against each other for the first time since their wonderful spell together at Werder Bremen ended, a club where they formed an almost telepathic partnership that produced 72% of the team’s goals (55) in 2007 and helped the German side to a Champions League spot. Klose, an out-and-out striker, who incorporates intelligent movement, good decision-making and great finishing, was the perfect match for the Brazilian’s sharp passing and jaw-dropping vision. Since moving on from the Bundesliga, they have both developed other partnerships: the German has found another Brazilian provider in the form of Hernanes, while Diego has the likes of Falcao and Adrian to look for up front.
Back in October, the Madrid outfit was beaten in Italy 2-0 by Udinese in the same competition, but that was under Manzano, and the match was played in the wrong Italian city. History favours los colchoneros when it comes to playing in Rome, where they have never lost. Back in 1998 they were held to a goalless draw against Lazio in the semifinals of the UEFA Cup, which saw them knocked out on aggregate, and in 1999 they came back from the Mussolini-constructed arena with a 2-1 win, however, that was against Lazio’s bitter rivals and stadium co-lodgers, Roma.
Lazio have enjoyed a decent season so far, currently sitting third in Serie A, but coach Edy Reja has a bit of a selection dilemma ahead of this European clash due to the troublingly long list of injuries he has to contend with.
In defense, veteran centre-half André Dias is out, and it looks as though the always reliable Stefan Radu will be missing at left full, as well as the versatile Senad Lulic, who have both had to sit out training this week. In their absence Reja has been experimenting with Abdoulay Konko at left back this week. If the Frenchman were to start against the likes of Adrian, Falcao and Arda Turan on Thursday, he could be in for a rough night as he’s not proven. There is talk of new signee, Antonio Candreva, filling in for Lulic on the left of midfield.
As far as selection problems for Simeone go, the main concern is Tiago who is still carrying a knock after playing against Racing Santander on Saturday. The Portuguese player will be missed in the middle of the park, where he would more than likely act as the thorn in Hernanes’ side, keeping the Brazilian’s breathing time on the ball to a minimum. To that end, it might be a good opportunity for Paulo Assunção – who, so far under Simeone, has been a rare sight on match days - to impress his new boss on the European stage. Apart from that, Atleti look at full strength and should be looking to get something from this game to take into the return leg the following week.
Simeone’s arrival has shored things up defensively for the south Madrid club, Thibaut Courtois has not had to pick a single ball out of the back of his net since the former midfield general took over from Manzano. As well as that, away form has picked up dramatically compared to before Christmas, when they were the most road sick team in the league. In recent weeks though, the team has been running on hot air and scoring has become an issue that needs to be resolved. The return of European football and the big occasion is as good a catalyst as any to invigorate this group of very decent players again and the depleted state of their hosts is not doubt something the players are well aware of.
Prediction: a 2-0 win for the visitors as Lazio’s injury list proves too much of a burden for them to deal with.
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