Atletico Madrid 1-0 Liverpool

Atletico Madrid will take a slender Europa League semi-final first-leg advantage to Anfield next week thanks to a ninth-minute strike from former Manchester United front man Diego Forlan.
In truth, however, the hosts will be regretting several opportunities they missed to add to their advantage. 
Liverpool, perhaps tired after their gruelling journey by land across Europe, will be grateful that they will not have to recover from a two or three-goal deficit following a poor game only redeemed by two good saves by goalkeeper Pepe Reina. 
Both sides went into the match missing key strikers and opted for a lone man up front with Atletico's Argentine international Kun Aguero suspended while injury denied Liverpool's Fernando Torres the chance to play against his former club. 
Atletico initially seemed to suffer the least from the absence of one of their key players. 
The Spanish side decided to test their visitors from the whistle and it quickly became apparent that the Liverpool back four were not sure how to deal with ex-Arsenal man Jose Antonio Reyes and Simao operating down the wings, with Jose Manuel Jurado playing just behind Forlan. 
Just nine minutes into the game, Jurado floated a cross to Forlan's head but, despite hardly making any contact, the Uruguayan international got a second chance when the ball fell to his feet and he poked it past Reina. 
The Liverpool defence recovered from the initial shock and gradually started to pick up their men but little creatively was coming out of the midfield with captain Steven Gerrard having another indifferent game.
They were, however, unfortunate not to level when Yossi Benayoun beat Atletico goalkeeper David de Dea - but his effort was wrongly ruled out for offside. 
But both sides were failed to make the best of their first-half free-kicks and corners with each team guilty of poor passing from set pieces as well as when going forward. 
Finally, Liverpool started to come into the game with 10 minutes to go before half-time with, for the first time, Dirk Kuyt starting to find his range from out on the right flank. 
However, Atletico almost went two in front four minutes before the break when their Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi stripped Daniel Agger of the ball on the right side of the box and skipped past two weak challenges before, trying ambitiously to score from a narrow angle, putting the ball into the side of the net. 
Atletico had another good chance just before the hour but a great save from Reina denied Simao, whose thunderous volley from an Ujfalusi cross looked on its way into the top corner. 
Despite Benitez swapping the ineffective David Ngog for Netherlands winger Ryan Babel after 63 minutes, the Dutchman fared little better with the chances he was offered, squandering an excellent opportunity in front of goal four minutes after getting on the pitch. 
The impressive Ujfalusi had another good effort with a rasping left foot shot 15 minutes from the end but Reina again showed why he is almost certainly going to be in Spain's World Cup squad, despite the plethora of options available to Spanish coach Vicente Del Bosque. 
The final minutes saw Liverpool - who have became the first English club to play in 16 European semi-finals - becoming increasingly desperate. 
And Atletico responded with some crude challenges which saw Valera get a late yellow card.
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Tuesday's gossip column

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Manchester United are considering a fresh attempt to lure Benfica's £20m-rated winger Angel di Maria to Old Trafford.(Daily Mail) 
Aston Villa, Sunderland and Blackburn are eyeing up Wolves defensive midfielder and captain Karl Henry, 27.(Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool are offering key Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano a two-year contract extension with a pay rise to keep him out of Barcelona's clutches. (The Sun) 
Blackburn are eager to sign Aruna Dindane - on loan at Portsmouth this season - in £2.5m deal from Lens.(Daily Mirror) 
Barcelona midfielder Alexander Hleb is desperate for a return to the Premier League, with Manchester City and Aston Villa standing by to sign him. (Daily Mirror) 
Michael Owen has dismissed the prospect of leaving Manchester United this summer by insisting he is happy to accept a reduced role at Old Trafford in exchange for silverware. (Daily Telegraph) 

OTHER GOSSIP

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson made a personal phone call of support to Ryan Shawcross after the Stoke defender's tackle broke Aaron Ramsey's leg. (Daily Mirror) 
England boss Fabio Capello will turn to Tottenham's injury-plagued defender Ledley King as he attempts to solve his centre-back crisis. King, 29, won his last England cap almost three years ago.(Daily Mail) 
Neil Warnock joined Queens Park Rangers as manager after the club agreed a £400,000 compensation deal with Crystal Palace. Warnock will be paid £15,000 a week at Loftus Road.(Daily Mail) 
Meanwhile, Steve Coppell has turned down the chance of an emotional return to replace Warnock at Selhurst Park, leaving the manager's door open for Paul Hart to take charge.(Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has urged club manager Rafael Benitez to stop fretting about his fitness while he is away on international duty with Spain. (Daily Mirror) 
Liverpool defender Daniel Agger is to undergo treatment - but not surgery - for a bruised bone in his knee which he sustained against Blackburn on Sunday. The centre-back left Anfield on crutches after the match. (The Independent) 
Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell will escape FA action for a lunge that took out a Wigan player, corner flag and linesman after referee Anthony Taylor cleared him. (The Sun) 
Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart believes he can answer the question at the heart of Fabio Capello's bid to win the World Cup. (Daily Express) 
Craig Bellamy's international future is in doubt after John Toshack, the Wales manager, refused to confirm that the Manchester City striker was part of his plans for the future. (The Guardian) 

AND FINALLY

Crisis-club Portsmouth are offering financial advice to supporters on their website. Pompey, who are in administration and have huge debts, are advertising PFC Financial Services division, which claims to bring everyday financial solutions to fans' families. One supporter said: "It's got to be a sick joke."(Daily Mirror)

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Veendam 0 - 1 FC Eindhoven

0-1 B.v.d. Eede  89.min.

Fiorentina - Liverpool

Fiorentina are performing well in domain Serie A. The main objective for this season is a spot for Champions League next year, they occupy 4th place, play well so far and it seems that target is reachable. At their home, Artemio Franchi, have all three wins (Palermo, Cagliari and Sampdoria) without a conceded goal. For domain frames, Viola have more than decent squad. Safe defence that doesn’t make too much errors, tough midfield and some quality strikers in front. But, also face two big problems. First, criterion that referees have in European games is much different than in Italy. Tougher tackles and less number of fouls usually put Italians in subordinate position. Especially when they play against English who are physically much stronger. Viola will have a lots of problems only to bring the ball on the opposite half and their biggest hope is some free kick, or individual efforts of their strikers. And here we come to the second big problem. Top striker and key of the keys, Alberto Gilardino, begins a two-match ban for elbowing Toulalan in Fiorentina's defeat by Lyon (0-1) two weeks ago. So, in front could be Adrian Mutu (in depression because the “Chelsea case”) and Stevan Jovetic, young Montenegrin striker who plays in excellent shape lately. So, free kicks and Jovetic will be the biggest (only, I think) threats to the visitors.

After disaster start in Premier League, Liverpool have been consolidated and started to play like title contender should. They’re in the run of six competitive wins in a row with 13 goals scored in last three Premier League games! Fernando Torres scored a hat-trick in Saturday's 6-1 victory over Hull and successfully sent a message to Florence. Rafael Benitez without a doubt wants to secure a progress in group as soon as possible and get a possibility to play with the fringe players and rest his keys. On the other hand, Liverpool still haven’t played against second strongest team in the group Olympique Lyonnais and possible failure in Italy could complicate the situation. This game has a big weight for the Reds and although they’ll have some hard games in next weeks in Premier (trip to Stamford at Sunday is the first) I don’t think Rafa will rest anybody tonight. Only missings will be midfielders Javier Mascherano (sick) and Yossi Benayoun who picked up a leg injury against Hull. The chance should finally be given to Ryan Babel, while Daniel Agger could return in defence line. 

Considering all facts that can be important for a win here, I give a clear advantage to Liverpool in all of them, except home atmosphere at Artemio Franchi. So, main question is how serious visitors will approach to this game. Win would open the door from the next round, while other outcome would bring a trouble and I think they’ll be very serious. I see 1.80 as a reasonable odd for this level of risk and everything more accept as a gift. Pinnacle offer 2.00. Away win.

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