Levante vs Atletico Madrid preview - Courtois prepared for late, late show - 7M sport

Levante vs Atletico Madrid preview - Courtois prepared for late, late show



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Posted Sunday, August 19, 2012 by PA

Thibaut Courtois is ready to burn the midnight oil as Atletico Madrid begin their bid to improve on last season's fifth-place finish in the Primera Division.

The 20-year-old Belgian goalkeeper, who is spending a second year with Atletico on loan from Chelsea, admits he would rather his side's opening game against Levante began earlier than 11pm.

But there can be no avoiding Sunday's late show, so Courtois will ensure he remains sharp for the tussle with the team who finished a place below Atletico last term.

"It's late for me to play at 10pm, and at 11pm it is very late," he said, "but we are professionals and if we have to play it at 11pm we will.

"It will be difficult, but we hope to play well and win and forget about the time."

Midfielder Juanfran Torres will be an absentee for Atletico, having suffered a knee injury on duty with Spain against Puerto Rico on Wednesday, but Courtois is fit after playing in Belgium's win over Holland.

Courtois has another big date in his diary, the UEFA Super Cup match against Chelsea in Monaco at the end of the month.

"Chelsea is my club," he said, "but I am also professional and play here and I want to win the Super Cup.

"I want to play, do well and win the trophy."

Courtois has Petr Cech ahead of him at Chelsea, but the abundance of experience he has been afforded with Atletico has helped.

The youngster said at a press conference, according to his club's website, that Atletico should be pushing for the Champions League places and he should be looking to hone his own game.

"I'm only 20 and I can improve a lot," he said. "I made two or three mistakes last year and that has to come out of my game.

"I want to have a great season, not only on a personal level but with the whole team. We can play better and get into the Champions League."

Levante lost their main striker Arouna Kone to Wigan this summer, and last season's early pacesetters may find the Ivorian difficult to replace.

Angel, brought in from Elche, could be the player asked to fill the void, while Levante have also brought in Greek forward Theofanis Gekas from Samsunspor.

They have brought in versatile Polish international Dariusz Dudka from Auxerre, a defensive midfielder who can also fill in at the back.



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