Atletico out to jump-start new era against Porto

Atletico Madrid, struggling to emerge from a decades-long shadow cast by illustrious neighbours Real, bid to get a new era under coach Abel Resino off to a winning start Tuesday against two-times European champions Porto.

A former Atletico goalkeeper, Resino, known simply as Abel, took charge three weeks ago after the club fired Mexican Javier Aguirre following a string of poor results which saw hpoes of playing a role in the Liga title chase evaporate.

Abel, 49, is only expected to be a stop-gap appointment until season’s end but he will have to conjure something out of the hat against a Porto side who are unbeaten in a dozen league outings following last Friday’s 2-0 win at Pacos de Ferreira, Hulk and Bruno Alves on target.

The win means Porto can go into Tuesday’s Champions League last 16 first leg top of their domestic heap.

Atletico, only one win in ten games, will do well to heed the fact that the Portuguese, winners in 1987 at Bayern Munich’s expense and then again under Jose Mourinho in 2004, have won six away games on a roll.

The Spaniards, who have won one, drawn one and lost one to date under Resino in the league, have Colombian defender Luis Perea sidelined for a month after a collision of heads with Sevilla’s Koffi Romaric saw him knocked out cold.

Abel insists that his side will be 100 percent up for the challenge despite their poor recent form.

“We’re looking to go as far as we can in the Champions League. I don’t think right now that Atletico Madrid are inferior to Porto,” says Abel, who played 243 games for the club – but never in European competition.

“I think it’s going to be a very even contest,” he added, insisting that the rojiblancos (red and whites) were capacle of coping with the pressure and the slight disadvantage of playing the return away from home.

Defender Pablo Ibanez says the change of coach is bringing dividends to a side which had lost its way under former Mexico coach Aguirre.

“With Abel we have improved the psychological aspect of things, which is what was previously lacking,” Ibanez told reporters.

Much may depend on the form of striker Sergio Aguero, who became a father on February 19 when his fiancee Gianina Maradona, daughter of Argentina coach Diego, gave birth to a boy, Benjamin Aguero Maradona

Atletico finished runners-up in their opening phase group behind Liverpool while Porto beat Arsenal into second place in their pool.

The Portuguese side’s Colombian midfielder Freddy Guarin will miss the match with ankle trouble while Jorge Fucile also has an ankle problem but has made the squad, Portuguese media reported Sunday.