Moody's upgrades Saudi Arabia's credit rating to Aa3 with stable outlook    Riyadh Metro to begin partial operations next Wednesday: Report    Al Okhdood halts Al Shabab's winning streak with a 1-1 draw in Saudi Pro League    Mahrez leads Al Ahli to victory over Al Fayha in Saudi Pro League    Al Qadsiah hands Al Nassr their first defeat in the Saudi Pro League    Saudi musical marvels takes center stage in Tokyo's iconic opera hall    Downing Street indicates Netanyahu faces arrest if he enters UK    London's Gatwick airport reopens terminal after bomb scare evacuation    Civil Defense warns of thunderstorms across Saudi Arabia until Tuesday    Saudi Arabia, Japan strengthen cultural collaboration with new MoU    Slovak president meets Saudi delegation to bolster trade and investment ties    Saudi defense minister meets with Swedish state secretary    Navigating healthcare's future: Solutions for a sustainable system    Al Khaleej qualifies for Asian Men's Club League Handball Championship final    Sixth foreign tourist dies of suspected methanol poisoning in Laos    Katy Perry v Katie Perry: Singer wins right to use name in Australia    Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws    Al-Jasser: Saudi Arabia to expand rail network to over 8,000 km    Sitting too much linked to heart disease –– even if you work out    Denmark's Victoria Kjær Theilvig wins Miss Universe 2024    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Filipino pilgrim's incredible evolution from an enemy of Islam to its staunch advocate    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Real-Atletico Copa del Rey final today
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 17 - 05 - 2013

BARCELONA — With a return to England looking likely, Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho can go out a winner when his team plays crosstown rival Atletico Madrid Friday in the Copa del Rey final.
Luckily for Mourinho and Madrid, Atletico has been incapable of winning a Spanish capital derby so far this millennium.
Atletico's last victory over its city rival came 14 years ago, in 1999. Since then, Madrid has won 19 times with Atletico managing only six draws.
Madrid can also count on the goal-scoring prowess of Cristiano Ronaldo, who will go head-to-head with Atletico striker Radamel Falcao.
Ronaldo headed home Madrid's winner in the 2011 final against Barcelona. Falcao, meanwhile, has a knack of rising to the occasion, scoring to win two Europa League finals for Atletico last year and for FC Porto in 2011.
“It's a trophy that we are very excited to win,” Ronaldo said of the Copa del Rey. “We know it will be a hard-fought match against a rival of the same city and it will be quite a show for the fans.
“I go into the match with a sense of great responsibility. I face all games the same way, but this is a final. It's a special match, but my ambition is always the same, to help Real Madrid the best way I know how, by playing well, scoring goals, and setting up my teammates.”
Ronaldo's buoyant mood contrasts completely with the stink Mourinho has made of things lately.
In his third season at Madrid, Mourinho has turned his ire away from opposing coaches and referees and onto his very own players. He started with benching Spain goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas, and most recently mocked one of his physical on-the-field enforcers in Pepe after he broke ranks and supported Casillas.
This belittling of his own players together with Madrid's loss of the Spanish league title to Barcelona and its failure to win an elusive 10th European Cup would probably have been enough to get a coach of lesser standing fired.
But Mourinho has gone one step further and insisted that he is not “loved” in Spain like he is in the Premier League, saying he will discuss his future with Madrid president Florentino Perez when the season finishes in early June. All combined, Mourinho should expect a noisy reception from the home fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where he has been jeered in recent matches.
Nevertheless, Mourinho could lift the Copa del Rey trophy as a consolation prize. If not, this season will be considered a complete flop for a club that boasts one of the most expensive squads in the world.
Atletico has a unique opportunity to wipe away years of misery by finally beating Madrid with a title at stake. To do so, the Atletico players will have to find a way to shake off the psychological advantage Madrid has over them.
In their most recent meeting on April 27, Madrid came from behind to win 2-1 even without Ronaldo's help.
“Of course our fans don't like the situation, but I don't think it will influence the match,” Atletico forward Diego Costa said. “We know it's a final and we have to be at our best to win.”
Neither side will play in the league over the weekend after playing last week to make room for the final. With Barcelona, Madrid and Atletico having locked up the top three spots, fourth place and the final Champions League berth is still up for grabs between Real Sociedad and Valencia.
Both are level on points before Valencia visits Getafe and Sociedad travels to Sevilla Saturday. — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.