Analysis
Atletico Madrid are not to be seen as underdogs. They won the UEFA Europa League in total fashion, demolishing Spanish rivals Athletic Bilbao 3-0 in the final. Coincidentally, Atletico enter Friday’s encounter fresh from another thumping defeat of Bilbao.
Over the weekend, Real Madrid’s local rivals sent a loud warning to UEFA Champions League winners Chelsea. Atletico Madrid brushed Athletic Bilbao aside with four goals, three of which came from Radamel Falcao.
The latter can consider himself to be one of the world’s deadliest strikers. He is the reigning UEFA Europa League top scorer. In his last season at FC Porto, the Colombian forward made history by hitting a record number of 17 goals in Europe. Last season, Radamel Falcao defied adaptation problems at his new club Atletico by scoring 36 goals in all competitions; 12 of those came in the UEFA Europa League.
Despite these achievements, Radamel Falcao seems to lack recognition from football followers around the globe. He was only ninth in the 2012 UEFA Best Player award’s 10-man shortlist. The Atletico Madrid forward is perhaps unlucky to live in the days of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The 2012 UEFA Super Cup will give Falcao a golden chance earn more respect in front of millions of viewers.
Chelsea’s defence cannot overlook the threat of this player. Besides Radamel Falcao, Atletico Madrid possess a great coach in the form of Diego Simeone and a great goalkeeper in the form of Thibaut Courtois. According to compatriot Edin Hazard, Courtois “could be the goalkeeper Belgium have been waiting for since Preud’homme or Pfaff”.
At Atletico Madrid, Thibaut Courtois acquired first-team football. The Belgium shot stopper could not compete against Petr Cech after joining Chelsea from KRC Genk back in July 2011. On Friday, 20-year-old Courtois could finally win a duel against the Blues’ veteran goalkeeper.
However, the 2012 UEFA Super Cup could be a high-scoring game where none of the men in post will be able to keep a clean sheet. For Chelsea, Friday’s match will be their first European fixture without African football star Didier Drogba.
The spotlight will be on in-form striker Fernando Torres who publicly voiced out his anger at starting the 2012 Champions League final from the bench. The Euro 2012 Golden Boot winner will be supported by playmaker Edin Hazard and inspirational midfielder Frank Lampard.
Chelsea used ultra-negative tactics to triumph over Barcelona and Bayern Munich in the last two stages of the UEFA Champions League. Expect the Blues to play a more open game against Atletico Madrid in Monaco. Roberto Di Matteo’s men are hitting top form in time.
They seat on top of the English Premier League with a perfect record after three rounds. They are poised to succeed Barcelona as UEFA Super Cup winners but Atletico Madrid will want to make sure the trophy remains in Spain.
Relevant facts
• The Stade Louis II in Monaco stands as the traditional venue for the UEFA Super Cup since 1998.
• Atletico Madrid won the 2010 UEFA Super Cup by beating UEFA Champions League winners Internazionale 2-0.
• The only time Chelsea won the UEFA Super Cup was 14 years ago. They defeated 1998 UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid by a Gus Poyet goal to nil.
• Chelsea and Atletico Madrid will both feature in their second UEFA Super Cup fixture.
