SOCCER/ATLETICO MADRID V LIVERPOOL:FERNANDO TORRES chose to have his hamstrings massaged on Merseyside rather than his morale in Madrid but the frisson surrounding Liverpool's visit to the Vicente Calderon Stadium has not disappeared with the former Atletico icon. Rafael Benitez's return to the city of his birth, plus a raw grievance with Uefa, ensures the local reception committee have plenty to preoccupy them here tonight.
The Liverpool manager was in the spotlight as soon as he stepped through arrivals at Barajas Airport yesterday and he may come to regret opposing Uefa's decision to stage this tie 300km from Atletico Madrid's home. Benitez was a leading critic of the two-match stadium ban imposed on the Spaniards last week, for crowd violence and racist abuse against Marseille, on the grounds the announcement gave Liverpool's fans little time to rearrange travel plans.
As a lifelong supporter, former player, youth coach and assistant manager of Real Madrid, however, he can expect no credit for the pressure that led to Uefa postponing the ban until next month and enabling Atletico to host their "Game of the Century" before an impassioned support. "When I was playing for the youth teams at Real Madrid my father would ask me why I didn't support Atletico because Atletico needed more supporters, but I have always had good feelings towards Atletico and their fans because of my father," said Benitez yesterday.
"He said it would be better to support Atletico, and he had so much passion for them, but I would be proud to win here because I am the manager of Liverpool Football Club. Not for any other reason. I only want to win for our fans."
Benitez's preference for Real was influenced by his mother, Rosario, who took him to matches at the Bernabeu while his late father, Francisco, worked as a hotelier. While there may have been a touch of the politician at work in the Liverpool manager's professed fondness for Atletico yesterday, his pride at returning home as the head of a European heavyweight was clearly genuine.
"For anyone to go back to their home town with their team is a special moment," he added. "For me it is a massive achievement just to be at this great club and to play Champions League football in Madrid is amazing."
Though injury has ruined Torres' homecoming, and the striker has declined an invitation to be a VIP guest of Atletico, Liverpool's Spanish connection ensures several sub-plots survive. "Fernando said we couldn't afford to lose because whenever he goes back to Madrid he'll get a load of stick, but we're still desperate to win it even without him," said Xabi Alonso, one of four Spaniards expected to start tonight.
Another, goalkeeper Jose Manuel Reina, will be in the unusual position of playing in front of his father. Miguel Reina played in goal for Atletico during the 1970s, including the 1974 European Cup final defeat by Bayern Munich, but can rarely bring himself to attend games involving his son because of nerves. "It is the right moment and the right place for him to watch me," said Reina Jnr.
A 2-1 derby defeat by Real Madrid at the weekend, preceded by a heavy one at Barcelona, has tempered Atletico's confidence but it is Uefa's penalty, and the accusation of racism, that has overshadowed the build-up to this game. Uefa has reportedly informed the match referee, Claus Bo Larsen, he has its full support should he take the teams off the pitch in response to any racist abuse from the crowd.
Reina jnr is adamant there is no problem with racism in Spain. "No not at all . . . there has never been a problem," he said. "I can guarantee Spain is not a racist country and Madrid is not a racist city."
Three consecutive defeats by direct rivals in the Primera Liga has left Atletico Madrid coach Javier Aguirre under pressure to get a good result tonight. Atletico have lost Czech Republic defender Tomas Ujfalusi to injury and are likely to field a number of squad players ahead of next weekend's trip to face Villarreal. Weary Argentina striker Sergio Aguero could start on the bench.
Ryan Babel could feature in the game. Babel missed Saturday's clash with Wigan after picking up an injury on international duty. There are minor injury doubts over Steven Gerrard, Yossi Benayoun and Robbie Keane, but they are expected to be fit.
