Sports FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 2015 45 In-form Atletico seek to pile pressure on Barca

BARCELONA: In-form Atletico Madrid will aim to pile pressure on a Barcelona side reeling from a rift between coach and star player in a crunch clash on Sunday. It was an all-or-nothing match last time the two sides met at the in the final game of last season with a draw giving the visitors the title. Now while the stakes are not as high, a negative result could have a major impact on the future of Luis Enrique. It is a perfect time for Diego Simeone’s Atletico side to face Barca who have failed to convince this season and are embroiled in a supposed rift between Luis Enrique and Messi. The pair are believed to have almost come to blows during a training session last Friday and then had a heated argument after Sunday’s La Liga defeat by . That result left champions Atletico level with Barcelona on 38 points, one less than leaders Real Madrid who also have a game in hand of their two title rivals. While Barcelona have hit the headlines for the wrong rea- sons, Simeone has gone about the business of adapting new players to his system with quiet efficiency. In the wake of the departure of key players such as striker , they started the season slowly but have picked up the pace and began the New Year with a victory over Levante in La Liga followed by a win against Real Madrid in the first leg of their King’s Cup last 16 tie. “I don’t understand this game without the word competi- tion,” Simeone said. “In order to compete against opposition you need to compete together. The team is working very hard. “In order to have success in three competitions you need to have a group. The team is competitive and we will take on the opposition in whichever competition.” Returning hero has been the centre of attention since arriving back at the Calderon in the January transfer window but he had a quiet game against Real. Simeone urged patience with the Spain striker, who left Atletico for Liverpool and then moved to Chelsea and Milan. “He offers drive and energy,” said Simeone. “He is strong and fast but needs more time to create an understanding with his team mates.” Real Madrid finished 2014 with a Spanish record 22 consecutive victories but after a La Liga defeat by Valencia and the loss to Atletico they will need to get back on track MADRID: Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez (left) tries to beat Atletico’s Saul during a round of 16, first leg, Copa del Rey against Espanyol tomorrow. —Reuters soccer match. —AP Juventus turn Atletico stun Real Madrid the tables in ref MADRID: Fernando Torres tasted victo- great squad and the tie is definitely not avert the danger with a fine last-ditch ry against Real Madrid as an Atletico over.” challenge. Madrid player for the first time as the La Both coaches signalled that their pri- Torres, meanwhile, was enduring a row with Roma Liga champions downed their city rivals orities lay elsewhere prior to kick off as nightmare opening half as he consis- 2-0 in the first leg of their Copa del Rey was left on the bench tently gave the ball away and was MILAN: After months of listening to AS Roma bickering about last 16 tie on Wednesday. by Ancelotti, whilst Simeone made sev- caught offside on numerous occasions. the refereeing in the controversial match against them in Despite a disappointing performance en changes to the side that beat Real passed up a couple of half September, Juventus have turned the tables following from Torres on his first appearance since Levante 3-1 at the weekend. chances to go in ahead at the break as Tuesday’s so-called phantom goal for their rivals. rejoining Atletico on loan from AC However, the hosts were indebted to Benzema fired straight at Oblak before Second-placed Roma closed the gap on leaders Milan, the hosts beat Real for the third one of those coming into the side after Sami Khedira headed over when Juventus to one point when they won 1-0 at Udinese amid time in four attempts this season thanks just two minutes when bril- unmarked inside the area. controversy over whether Davide Astori’s header had crossed to Raul Garcia’s penalty and a thumping liantly parried a towering header from The visitors also had the first opening the line after it bounced down off the underside of the cross- header from Jose Gimenez after half- Sergio Ramos, reminiscent of his of the second period when Bale prod- bar. Although photographs seemed to indicate the ball had time. equaliser in the Champions League final ded wide from a narrow angle. However, crossed the line, the referee’s decision to over-rule the goal- Last season’s Cup winners will now between the two sides in May which it was Atletico who finally made the line assistant and award the goal gave Juventus all the ammu- have it all to do when the two sides swung the match in Real’s favour. breakthrough when Garcia was nition they needed. meet again for the return leg at the The visitors then had a goal rightly adjudged to have been pulled down by “In recent weeks, (Roma coach Rudi) Garcia has continued Bernabeu on January 15. ruled out from another setpiece as Ramos and the composed to talk about Juventus-Roma, forgetting about all the inci- “We have a chance. It is clear that Gareth Bale was flagged offside when himself to fire low into Navas’s left-hand dents that have gone in Roma’s favour,” Juventus chief execu- Atletico have the advantage but at he headed James Rodriguez’s free-kick corner. Torres’s evening ended early as tive Giuseppe Marotta told Gazzetta dello Sport. home anything can happen. The odds into the far corner. he was replaced by Koke, while “If the referee is a human being, that means he came make aren’t in our favour but we will try our Straight from the free-kick, Atletico Ancelotti quickly summoned Ronaldo mistakes. You have to accept the rules of the game and Roma best,” said Real boss , then had their first effort on goal as from the bench in the bid for an away should do that as well,” he added. whose side have now lost back-to-back Oblak released with goal, with Rodriguez making way. “You cannot blame the failure to win the league title on a games to start 2015 after a run of 22 a long ball and his low effort was turned Yet, the World Player of the Year refereeing mistakes, over the years there are incidents that go consecutive victories. behind by . made little impact on Atletico’s well- for you and against you.” Meanwhile, his counterpart Diego Griezmann was then presented with marshalled defence and centre-back Juventus beat Roma 3-2 in September in a stormy match Simeone refused to accept that the tie Atletico’s best chance of the opening 45 Gimenez then proved to be a star at the which featured two controversial penalties for the hosts and was now Atletico’s to lose. minutes when he robbed Rafael Varane other end as he rose highest to power one for the visitors. Roma also claimed Juve’s winning goal “We have a lot of respect for Real and closed in on goal, but his French home Koke’s corner 13 minutes from should have been disallowed for offside.—Reuters Madrid. They have a great coach and international team-mate recovered to time. —AFP