Levante vs Atletico Madrid preview - Martinez lauds Los Granotes

Posted Sunday, April 08, 2012 by PA

Levante manager Juan Ignacio Martinez believes the success of Spanish teams in Europe lends even more credit to his side's achievements this season.

Los Granotes currently sit in fifth position, ahead of Europa League semi-finalists Athletic Bilbao and this weekend's opponents Atletico Madrid, however Martinez is expecting to come under pressure from Atleti in the few remaining weeks of the season.

He told a press conference broadcast on the club's website: "That there are five Spanish sides in the semi-finals says a lot about our campaign and gives a lot of merit to Levante for the season we are having in a league that has such potent teams. This speaks very well of our players.

"We know Atletico have been preparing since the start of the season to be in high part of the league and they have had an irregular league season, but, bit by bit and logically, as with other teams with the budget, the talent and the squad, they are positioning themselves for the run-in."

Asier del Horno is the only absentee for the hosts with a thigh injury and Juanlu could even make his first appearance after four months out with a broken fibula.

Atleti manager Diego Simeone, meanwhile, is still coming off the high of qualifying for the last four of the Europa League and had special praise for Adrian Lopez who set them on their way with the opening goal in the 2-1 win at Hannover on Thursday night.

The Spain Under-21 international showed spectacular composure to take the ball around two Hannover defenders and the goalkeeper before slotting the ball into the empty net and Simeone believes the former Deportivo La Coruna striker has a unique talent.

He told Marca: "Only Adrian could have finished like this. He has no limits and it is clear that he will continue to improve. This is just a small indication of what this boy can do."

Simeone is likely to make a few changes for the return to league action as Juanfran, Gabi and Arda Turan return from suspension.