Matchday 18 - Featured Preview: Hercules vs Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid manager Quique Sanchez Flores is not happy about having to play on Monday again and, after the dreadful performance in the 0-0 draw at home to Racing Santander last week, I don't really blame him. The rojiblancos will have to improve substantially if they are to overcome Hercules at the Jose Rico Perez. Esteban Vigo's team have struggled lately but they tend to pull it together at home. David Trezeguet is a prime example of this: he has scored all eight of his goals so far for Hercules in Alicante. He will be the main danger man up front for the hosts.

HERCULES

Player to Watch: David Trezeguet

Hercules were a sorry state last weekend in the 3-0 defeat to Real Mallorca at the Iberostar Estadi. The row between the club and star midfielder Royston Drenthe over late payments cast a shadow over the team and, even though they usually perform far worse away from home than at the Jose Rico Perez, they were particularly bad on matchday seventeen. Drenthe has since returned to training but his inclusion against Atletico Madrid this weekend is still in doubt due to the general disaffection with his antics. Hercules' home form is strong but Atletico Madrid will be a tough opponent so long as the same apathy that saw the Madrilenos draw 0-0 with Racing last weekend does not arise. Esteban Vigo's club are WLWDL in their last five games but they have won they last three consecutive matches at home.

The fallout from the Royston Drenthe affair continues to rumble on. The Dutch player has obviously fallen in Esteban Vigo's regard as the boss overlooks him even though he has been training over the course of the week. Other than that, the news is all good for Vigo as he gears up for Atletico's visit. Pena could return to the back four after serving a domestic suspension and the squad has also been bolstered by the addition of Tote, who missed the first match of the year due to injury. Tiago Gomes and Javier Farinos are crocked so they are the only players unavailable at the Alicante club this week.

Possible starting XI: (4-2-3-1) Juan Calatayud; Pena, Rodriguez, Noe Pamarot, Abraham Paz; Matias Fritzler, Abel Aguilar; Kiko Femenia, Tote, Nelson Valdez; David Trezeguet;

ATLETICO MADRID

Player to Watch: Elias

Atletico Madrid are set for two derby games in two weeks after setting up a quarter-final clash with Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Atletico drew 1-1 with Espanyol at the Cornella El Prat stadium in midweek to seal a 2-1 aggregate advantage over two matches. Those will be two highly-charged encounters but before Quique Sanchez Torres' team return to cup action they have a league game with Hercules on Monday night to prepare for. Hercules are going through a difficult moment but they are a hard team to beat at home and Atletico's performance in their last league outing at home to Racing Santander was foul. Their form reads DWWDD in their last five matches and they are 6th in the league standings. A win would help the Madrilenos close the gap on Espanyol to just one point.

The club's latest signing, Brazilian midfielder Elias, has been named in Atletico's travelling squad for the first time. Tiago Mendes is injured so there is a space in central midfield up for grabs. Paolo Assuncao, who was hospitalized with a head injury last Thursday has proved to everybody's satisfaction that he is fit for action but he may start on the bench, with Raul Garcia and Mario Suarez therefore favourites to come into plug the hole in the middle of the park. Diego Forlan has also proved his fitness this weekend and could come straight back into the starting eleven next to Sergio Aguero up front; Aguero was handed the club captaincy after signing a new long term deal last week.

Possible starting XI: (4-4-2) David de Gea; Filipe Luis, Luis Perea, Alvaro Dominguez, Tomas Ujfalusi; Jose Antonio Reyes, Mario Suarez, Raul Garcia, Fran Merida; Diego Forlan, Sergio Aguero;