Football News

Javier Aguirre admitted that Atlético de Madrid will not have it easy when they meet Porto in the Champions League after the clubs were paired together in Switzerland on Friday.The Mexican coach does not think that Los Colchoneros have been given a favourable draw and believes that the Portuguese giants will test his side in what will be a close contest.

Despite having avoided many of the tournament favourites, Aguirre was not prepared to make any predictions about his team's chance against Porto."The tie will be 50-50. They are a strong team with a good coach, former champions of Europe, and they have good players who play in a strong system. It will not be easy," Marca quote him as saying.

"It will be very even, but we will be calm."

While the media focus on the Champions League, Aguirre was keen to concentrate on Atlético's last game of the year against Espanyol on Saturday night in Barcelona.

"The team is doing well and we really want to finish the first stage of the season with a win. We will not relax because we are not on holiday yet," he continued.

"Until midnight on Saturday we will not take the break that we deserve. I am only thinking about playing well in Montjuïc and moving into the top four.

"Espanyol is all that is important now."

Lazio coach Delio Rossi is demanding a good showing against Palermo tomorrow evening.The Biancocelesti have fallen off the pace over the last few weeks, but they will look to make amends against the Sicilians and end the year on a good note.

Lazio have been distracted this week by constant talks of an exit for the coach, as well as dressing room unrest.However, Rossi has brushed all that under the carpet as he looks ahead."We have a tough game against Palermo as they are a direct rival for Europe," Rossi told Sky Sport Italia.

"I hope my players can take advantage of playing at home.

"Palermo have picked themselves up after a fairly slow start to the league.

"They are doing very well and they are a team which will fight until the end."

Christian Brocchi is injured for the Aquile, and Rossi is likely to start with an attacking trident composed of Mauro Zarate, Goran Pandev and Tommaso Rocchi.

Milan have reacted to the UEFA Cup draw having been paired with Werder Bremen in the knockout phase.Early talk seems to suggest they are not too worried.

Club director Silvano Ramaccioni was in Nyon as he followed the draw and he is confident in his side's abilities, despite meeting a Champions League drop-out."It's a serious draw but not severe," the director told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

"It will be a difficult game because Werder are a strong team and they are used to playing Italian sides.

"We have to play them with maximum concentration and conviction. Overall, I think it's better to have drawn Werder."

The Rossoneri have not been too special in Europe, drawing with both Portsmouth and Wolfsburg in the group stage.

Reports in Italy have suggested Milan would rather win the Scudetto than the UEFA Cup.

Parma coach Francesco Guidolin has rubbished the claims that his star striker, Cristiano Lucarelli, will be joining Palermo this January in the upcoming transfer window.Guidolin reassured the Gialloblu fans that the former Livorno player will remain at the club at least until the end of the season to help the team obtain a quick return to Serie A.

“We never received the news of a possible Palermo interest for the player,” explained the former Bologna and Rosanero coach.“I only think about the transfer market in January but, in any case, I can easily say that we don’t want to lose our striker.”

Parma are currently fighting for the top positions in Serie B as they are currently tied in third place with four other teams, with 29 points from 18 league games, three points behind league leaders Sassuolo.