Tottenham didn’t start well in their game against Juventus but they’ll improve. Their response however, after a slow start was very positive.
Experimenting at this stage is a good thing. Young players getting game time and making mistakes can happen.
Coaches will not want them to repeat those mistakes but it’s a great learning curve. Pochettino will learn plenty about his players.
It’s hard to say how strong this Atletico Madrid team is. Like all teams in this tournament, there’s a strong well known player but all teams have started off slowly in their first game out in foreign territory.
It would be nice to see something different with Atletico and really liven this tournament up.
Great to see Fernando Torres in the Atletico Madrid line-up as he’s a very good player and when he’s in form, he has shown how prolific he can be.
Strikers are all about confidence and Torres is a very dangerous player.
He’s playing for his boyhood club and at 32-years-old, there’s still some great football left in him.
With all these games, teams look to improve and at this level they normally do. The ones who aren’t capable, don’t get here.
Defence is always about doing the simple things well and being organised. If you do this and limit opportunities to the opponent, you’ve done your job.
That also gives belief and then a defence can look to contribute in a positive way by joining in attacks, especially in wider areas.
How it’s shaping up
My read on these games has been pretty bad actually. Pre-season is just so hard to predict.
Coaches aren’t really concerned with results but fitness can be achieved by playing in these games.
I’m expecting Atletico to press early in this one and force a pace. It won’t last the full game, in fact it won’t last a full half of football.
I do hope that there’s some urgency to the game though. For the fans, these games need to have an intensity and a purpose.
Being selfish I would like to see more in this one.
KEY PLAYER: Fernando Torres
Torres, as I’ve said, is all class on his day. When he’s in form he’s absolutely clinical.
I’m backing the Spaniard to get on the score sheet.
Unibet Odds: Tottenham 3.70 Draw 3.50 Atletico Madrid 1.98
Tip: Draw
Total goals: over 2.5
Double chance: Tottenham and Draw (1.77)
Both teams to score: Yes (1.78)
Correct score: 2-2 (15.00)
Tips and Previews provided by UniBet Australia