Home comforts crucial for ailing Atlético

Club Atlético de Madrid coach Abel Resino will hope to turn the form book on its head when FC Porto visit the Vicente Calderón in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League first knockout round tie on Tuesday.

'Dangerous'
The two teams have experienced contrasting fortunes since the end of the group stage, with Porto hitting their stride just as Atlético were losing theirs. Javier Aguirre, who had led the Madrid club back into the competition after a 12-year absence, made way for former Atlético goalkeeper Abel Resino who has hardly had time to find his feet before steeling his side for the arrival of the Portuguese champions. "We're facing a big team and big teams are always very dangerous," Resino said.

Winning goal
Atlético have lost six of their last ten matches in all competitions, yet Resino is confident they will lift themselves for the UEFA Champions League. "If we want to get through, we have to go out to win," he said ahead of only his fourth game since replacing Aguirre three weeks ago. "Little by little we're getting better. We're trying to get back to where we were. To get through would be really satisfying but the most important thing is that the team continues improving and that the players catch on quickly to what I'm telling them."

'No option'
Atlético can draw strength from an impressive home record in the élite continental competition. They have lost just three of the 26 home matches they have played in the European Champion Clubs' Cup, and the 49-year-old Resino knows they must make home advantage count. "Porto have a long tradition of quality and experience and they know how to compete," the coach said. "Atlético have to try to win at the Vicente Calderón, there is no other option."

On a roll
The hosts welcome back Éver Banega, who missed Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Sevilla FC with a knee complaint, but Luis García continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. Luis Perea, victim of a fractured cheekbone against Sevilla, is suspended. If Atlético have been struggling, the opposite is true of the 2004 UEFA Champions League winners who extended their unbeaten Liga run to 12 games on Friday, prevailing 2-0 at FC Paços de Ferreira.

No comparison
The Portuguese champions, who will be without Freddy Guarín (ankle) and Nelson Benítez (groin), have also won five of their last ten away matches in the UEFA Champions League, although coach Jesualdo Ferreira shrugs off suggestions they are favourites. "They've had some difficult results lately, but just because we may be going through a better domestic run doesn't make us favourites," he said. "We can't compare the two teams from their national championships."

Positive mindset 
Porto have lost at this stage in each of the last two campaigns and their 62-year-old trainer is determined to go one better this time. "We'll need a group effort," he said. "We have to go into this in a positive frame of mind. The atmosphere will be difficult, but we'll use it as a motivational tool. Knowing this is the UEFA Champions League will bring the best out of the players."