Almeria vs Atletico de Madrid preview - Perea: We will keep believing

Posted Saturday, March 12, 2011 by PA

Atletico Madrid defender Luis Perea believes his side can still qualify for the Champions League.

Atletico began the season in impressive fashion as they won the European Supercup with a 2-0 victory over Inter Milan back in August.

Their presence in that fixture came about thanks to victory in the Europa League at the end of last season and Quique Sanchez Flores' side also reached the final of the Copa del Rey, which they lost to Sevilla.

With Sanchez Flores in charge for less than a full season, Atletico had looked to be a team very much on the up, but the current campaign has been less impressive.

Out of Europe, out of the Copa del Rey and faltering in the Primera Division, Atletico appear unlikely to achieve any of their pre-season objectives.

The main one of those was qualification for the Champions League, but with just 11 games remaining, the Madrid side are currently in eighth spot, 12 points behind fourth-placed Villarreal.

Perea, though, believes there is still a chance.

"I still think it would be a failure if we didn't qualify for the Champions League," he said.

"While there is still a chance mathematically, we will keep believing - if we do our job then I'm sure others will drop back."

Atletico moved slightly closer to their objective by beating Villarreal 3-1 last weekend, their finest result for some time.

Sanchez Flores' side now travel to Almeria, having never won away to the Andalusian outfit.

"Atletico have never won at Almeria, but now is a good time to change history," Perea said.

Atletico then face Real Madrid in the capital's derby match next weekend, but left-back Filipe Luis claims the players are focused only on Almeria.

"We are not thinking about the game against Real Madrid," he said.

"Before that we have a very important match against Almeria."

Alvaro Dominguez is suspended, but Atletico should otherwise be at full strength.

Almeria's somewhat fortunate 2-1 win at Hercules last weekend was only the club's fifth Primera Division victory of the season, but it was an important one as it lifted Jose Luis Oltra's side off the bottom of the league table and to within two points of 17th-placed Real Zaragoza.

"Atletico are a team with great potential, who are strong in attack, have won titles and have a coaching staff who know what they are doing - it will be a hard match," Oltra said.

"But we are a competitive team, especially at home, where we have good results in the last four games."

Pablo Piatti is sidelined for the match while Juanma Ortiz is doubtful.