Atlético face the final curtain

Luis García has promised that Club Atlético de Madrid will treat tonight's UEFA Cup Round of 32 showdown with Bolton Wanderers FC as "a real final", with the Primera División side desperate to overturn a 1-0 deficit on home soil.

'We'll make it'
El Hadji Diouf's strike in Lancashire separates the two sides, but former Liverpool FC midfielder Luis García insists confidence is high in the Spanish capital. "We all know what's at stake," he said. "This is one of the most important matches this season and we consider it to be a real final. We know it's going to be complicated but we're confident we'll pull through. The defeat last week hurt but this a great team and we'll make it."

Forlán form
Available again after suspension, the 24-year-old already has experience of scoring against Bolton from his spell at Anfield, and that pedigree could prove vital with key striker Agüero suspended following his dismissal in the first leg. That said, Diego Forlán will assume most of the team's goalscoring responsibilities, and the Uruguayan is in hungry form this season. He has scored 17 goals for Los Colchoneros in 2007/08, including five from nine appearances in Europe.

League slump
The hosts can also draw comfort from their record at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, where they are yet to lose a match in UEFA club competition this term. However, times are far from rosy for Javier Aguirre's men and their recent league performances have been disappointing after an impressive run at the end of 2007. Atlético have taken just four points from their past five matches, and although they remain fourth, a 2-1 loss to Athletic Club Bilbao at the weekend increased the cause for concern.

Absentee list
Their European ambitions are hindered by a raft of absentees, with Raúl García joining Agüero on the banned list. Thiago Motta (knee), Simão, Leo Franco, Zé Castro and Juan Valera (all thigh) and Giourkas Seitaridis (achilles) are all expected to miss out through injury.