Mallorca vs Atletico de Madrid preview - Caparros has little sympathy for Atleti

Posted Sunday, January 06, 2013 by PA

Mallorca manager Joaquin Caparros believes Atletico Madrid can have no complaints over missing three key players for their trip to Palma this weekend as the Islanders have been missing a host of players through injury all season.

Radamel Falcao, Arda Turan and Miranda are all suspended for the visitors, but Caparros still believes Atleti will pose a major threat and is looking for his side to start conceding fewer goals in 2013.

He told AS: "You cannot speak about missing players to Mallorca because we have broken records in this aspect.

"Atleti are second in the league, which is huge, they have a great team and a great coach who has transferred his spirit onto the team and says things clearly which I love.

"We need to return to being the team we have demonstrated we can be, but above all else we need to reduce the number of goals conceded. This is something we have talked about and hopefully we will be luckier with injuries."

Victor Casadesus is also suspended for Mallorca so Tomer Hemed will return to lead the line up front and Pedro Geromel should also come back into the defence after he was banned for the 2-1 win over Betis before the break.

Atleti's 100% record at home this season was only kept alive by a wonderful strike by Adrian Lopez in the 1-0 win over Celta Vigo in their final game of 2012, and the Spanish international is hoping that the absence of Falcao and Arda will mean he will get a chance from the start.

He told the club's website: "I prefer to think about the people who can go and can play. Clearly I am desperate to play, like all of my team-mates we all want to play.

"I am happy with the last game before the break, to have been able to score this goal and personally my objective is to continue like this, helping the team and if I can score more goals then even better.

"It will be a difficult game because they need the points and are playing at home. They are always a strong team there in their stadium and it will certainly be a very difficult match."

One positive piece of news for Diego Simeone is the return to fitness of Filipe Luis so he will slot in at left-back with Cata Diaz set to partner Diego Godin in Miranda's absence.