Spanish football expert Graham Hunter explains why Jose Mourinho could have a say in where the brilliant Radamel Falcao is sold – and why Atlético Madrid are about to undergo football’s version of the ‘Tourmalet’…

Twas the night before the night before Christmas but Santa brought Atlético Madrid a present anyway.

His name was Diego Pablo Simeone – slayer of David Beckham, slayer of reputations. Hardman.

The Argentinian was the knuckleduster in football boots at the throbbing, heart of Atlético’s midfield last time they won the Spanish league – back in the ‘Double’ season of 1995/6 under Raddy Antic.

Los Colchoneros were in a mess and Simeone, an Atlético fanatic, had been making eyes at his old team for months and months. Finally the old duffers at the Calderon took the hint and here, nearly one year on from that auspicious date of December 23 2011, Madrid’s second team are a proper force to be reckoned with.

Their UEFA Europa league triumph last season was impressive but topped off with a brutal, thrilling and utterly forensic dismantling of Athletic Bilbao in the final – it was like putting a starving bull mastiff in a small room with a sleepy lamb.

In terms of a match is was the embodiment of the Simeone spirit – muscle, mentality, intelligence and intensity.

This term his lads have continued their all-out assault on their reputation as a fragile, fair-weather powderpuff of a club. However, before Simeone can put flame to a Cohiba and celebrate 365 days in the job of his dreams he and Atlético are about to go through football’s version of the Tour de France Tourmalet.

Gradient 1:10, only for winners – wimps needn’t get on their bike

This weekend at Atletico it’s Sevilla , fresh from their mauling of Real Betis – 5-1 in the city derby. Then it’s the Chamber of Doom – that five mile trip along the banks of the Manzanares river then cruising up Paseo de la Castellano until it looms over them, the Santiago Bernabéu.  Atlético haven’t defeated Real Madrid at home or away since Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink was their key man in the relegation season of 1999. Thirteen years of pain and humiliation. Moreover it’s nearly 14 years since they went into a derby ahead of Madrid in La Liga. (not that it helped them avoid a 4-2 defeat!)

So if this is their ‘Tourmalet’ (literaly ‘Bad Trip) then who could possibly be next on the ascent? World Champions FC Barcelona of course – at the Camp Nou.

Sevilla, who defeated Atletico in the Copa Del Rey final of 2011, Madrid who keep their neighbours in a gimp mask in the cellar, and Barcelona who have regularly run up four, five and six-goal wins over Los Rojiblancos in recent seasons plus an away Uefa tie in Pilsen and a Copa tie against Jaen – all before Christmas.  A test of fire.

But Atletico are a twin-engined winning machine at the moment.

Working under Simeone’s demanding control is the world’s best No9 striker (pictured above lifting the Europa League Cup with FC Porto in Dublin). With apologies and respect to Robin Van Persie, Wayne Rooney, Mario Gomez, Zlatan and their ilk, if you accept that Messi and Ronaldo play in different positions, then Radamel Falcao is the best centre-forward on the planet. By miles.

His team mate Filipe Luis says of ‘the Tiger’ (Falcao’s nickname for years now)…

He’s our barometer. If he’s fine, working hard, fighting for us then the team’s just like him – on top. He’s a natural leader, born with that quality which is why, goals aside, he’s converted into one of our captains. He gets a tough time – he’s so dangerous that opponents constantly kick him, pull his shirt, punch him and the officials don’t blow for enough fouls. I know it really hacks him off. But we are flying, the team is in great shape and we are all loving the way we play.

Antic, who won that red and white double in wonderful style back in 1996 says: “I’m enchanted by the way Falcao plays, how hard he works but above all how he’s become the symbol for all the players in this group to unite behind. Sometimes you get a guy whose play and personality are so good that it becomes contagious for the rest of the squad and he just naturally becomes their leader.

That’s what I see in Falcao and what’s even more exciting is that there’s more to come from him. I see some similarities in this team if you compare it to mine which won the league and the cup in 1996. The hunger, the work and the quality of the football. Will they win the title? All I’d say is that right now they aren’t inferior to any side in the league and nothing they are doing invites doubts.

But without being contrary there are some doubts to deal with before we can think of Atlético as potential champions, potential double … even treble winners.

The next four weeks will be a brilliant litmus test of the squad.

But another doubt is … what if Falcao is injured? Tellingly, Simeone left him out of the Uefa squad again this week and said: “We’ve scored in almost all our games in all competitions and that’s true even when I’ve rested El Tigre. Arda has added three goals, there are scorers across the squad and not to depend so, so much on Falcao is fantastic.”

Finally, the BIG question. How quickly will the Colombian be sold; how much Atletico actually paid for him, to what degree he is owned by the Madrilenos; and to what degree by investors in his agent’s company is a subject which is much debated in Spain.

If Atletico only part own Falcao, something which is both normal and legal in many countries, then under that hypothesis it would be for his agent and the investors to dictate when, to whom and for how much he’s sold.

The petrodollar clubs, Manchester City, PSG and Chelsea are lining up – they’d be fools not to.

Jorge Mendes, Falcao’s agent, is certainly shrewd enough to consider where another principal client, Jose Mourinho, will be for the next few seasons before helping the striker decide his own destination. So, potentially, add Real Madrid to the queue of suitors. A Christmas move, just as Simeone celebrates a year with the Tiger – you’d think not. But a move soon, nonetheless.  In the summer almost certainly.

For the moment he’ll need to help push Atlético up Tourmalet – what lies at the summit, glory, adoration and a multi-million-pound move to the English Premier League, should make Falcao a formidable opponent for Sevilla, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Co this coming month.

Graham Hunter is a Barcelona-based, British soccer writer whose passionate insight on La Liga can regularly be seen and heard on TV and radio. He also writes for the Paddy Power Blog on Spanish football. Follow Graham on twitter here.

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Manchester City v Liverpool 8pm

As normal folk get back to the humdrum of regular life after the festive period, City fans may be more donwhearted than most after seeing their club’s star wane a little following a 1-0 defeat at Sunderland – in a game which they should not have lost.

Roberto Mancini’s men remain 8/11 favourites to land their first Premier League title despite suffering their second Premier League defeat of the season but they will be hugely disappointed after failing to capitalise on three of their rivals all failing to win over the weekend.

Both those recent defeats have come away from home and the Blues will be back on home territory for what is a massive clash against Liverpool, and they boast a 100 percent record at the Etihad Stadium having banged in 28 goals and conceding just four in nine games there.

That record and their early season form is reflected in the match betting as they are installed as 4/5 favourites, with the draw available at 13/5 and Liverpool at 7/2.

City though have a poor record against the Reds and a 3-0 victory in this fixture last year is their only success in 13 games, while the goals have suddenly dried up for the previously free-scoring league leaders – failing to score in their last two against West Brom and Sunderland.

Liverpool go into the fixture on the back of a confidence-boosting 3-1 win over Newcastle at Anfield on Friday in which talisman Steven Gerrard enjoyed a cameo that was enough to win the man of the match award.

The England midfielder marked only his second appearance since his return with the third goal and has to be worth a look in the goalscoring markets (10/1 First/Last Goalscorer, 11/4 Anytime), particularly having struck winners three times against City.

Luis Suarez is also available again after missing the win over Newcastle due to suspension and, with a good defensive record this season, it would be no surprise to see Liverpool – who held City to a 1-1 draw at Anfield earlier this season – become the first team to take something away from Eastlands.

Tottenham v West Brom 7.45pm

Spurs go into this match looking to make amends for a disappointing showing on Saturday at Swansea in a 1-1 draw, which failed to take advantage of the top two both losing over the weekend.

Harry Redknapp’s men are back on home territory where they have lost only once this season (5-1 to City) and are unsurprisingly 2/5 favourites to secure their seventh win at White Hart Lane, with the draw at 7/2 and West Brom at 15/2.

Scott Parker will be big miss though after he suffered a knee injury against the Swans to join Tom Huddlestone, Ledley King and Aaron Lennon on the sidelines, although the Baggies have injury problems of their own with Chris Brunt and Jonas Olsson set to miss the clash.

West Brom have been better on the road this season, picking up four wins away from the Hawthorns, but goals have been a problem and Spurs should have enough firepower to land the spoils.

Wigan v Sunderland 7.45pm

Wigan have picked up some impressive results of late, holding Chelsea and Liverpool to draws as well as coming from behind to take a share of the spoils against Stoke, despite being reduced to 10 men at the Britannia Stadium.

However, they still remain in the bottom three and take on a resurgent Sunderland side who appear to have turned a corner under the stewardship of Martin O’Neill, and have now pulled six points clear of the drop zone.

Recent form appears to have made this one tough to call with Latics on offer at 7/4, the draw at 9/4 and the Black Cats marginal favourites at 13/8.

Sunday’s shock win over City should instil the belief in Sunderland though that they can rise up the table and are fancied to take the points against a team which has just one home victory to its name.

O’Neill has shown the magic touch since his arrival, picking up three wins and a draw from five matches in charge – and he can improve that record against Wigan on Tuesday.

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Arsene Wenger

The gifted midfielder helped Spain to become world champions in South Africa earlier in the summer with his club future in the balance.

Fabregas, 23, is wanted by former club Barcelona whose stars – including Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Carles Puyol – have all gone on record backing the deal.

The Gunners, naturally, do not want to lose their best player although Fabregas himself is understood to be keen to make the move to his boyhood club.

However, Wenger insists Fabregas still has his whole career in front of him and wants the versatile midfielder on board for a title tilt in 2010/11.

The Frenchman said: “The best way to show you are committed is that you give your best when you walk on the football pitch and he has always done that.

“When you sign a contract it means we are committed to a player to pay him and keep him no matter what happens.

“There is a great attitude and spirit inside the squad and Cesc Fabregas can help us achieve these targets.

“He is now at an age, 23 years old, and he has just won the World Cup. I believe he will grow in authority again for next season.”

Wenger added: “The biggest achievement for him now is to help us win the championship.”

Arsenal have not won the Premier League since 2004 and their last silverware came a year later when they beat Manchester United on penalties in the FA Cup final (Arsenal 7/1 – FA Cup 2010/11 Outright).

They continue their build-up to the new season in the Emirates Cup without Fabregas who has not returned to training yet after the World Cup.

Wenger’s men take on AC Milan on Saturday evening with fellow midfielders Abou Diaby, Denilson and Alex Song also ruled out with slight knocks (Arsenal 8/11, draw 12/5, AC Milan 16/5 – 90 minutes).

Wenger told reporters: “You will see some young players like Emmanuel Frimpong and Jack Wilshere, also the new players like Marouane Chamakh and Laurent Koscielny.

“It will be good to see them in a competitive environment. That will be interesting.

“I will also learn what condition we are in physically, because we have worked quite hard and with two weeks to go it is important that we can last in the games.

“The third point is how ready are we with our team play? How sharp is our passing, and quick movement off the ball?”

Celtic and Lyon are also involved in this summer’s Emirates Cup.

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Sevilla collected a valuable three points at the weekend when they came from behind to beat Malaga 2-1 away from home. That win put them into fourth place in the league temporarily before Real Mallorca continued their fine home form this season by disposing of Valencia 3-2 on Sunday to reclaim the coveted Champions League qualifying spot.

Real Valladolid are in deep trouble, as they lie second from bottom and six points away from safety. They will be desperate for a win but the prospect of this happening is slim as Real Valladolid have not scored any goals in their last four league games and only have a sorry 2 home wins to their name this season so far.

Bet on this match: Valladolid v FC Sevilla

Sevilla may be hitting form just at the right time as they are embroiled in a proper dogfight for a top four spot with Mallorca and Athletic Bilbao. But with talent such as Luis Fabiano, Jesus Navas and Freddy Kanoute at their disposal they will be expecting to clinch Champions League football once again next season.

The last match between these two sides in December ended in a 1-1 draw, with Sevilla grateful to a Luis Fabiano penalty for salvaging a point after going a goal behind. It is a result Valladolid will probably be happy to take again, but a point certainly wouldn’t please Sevilla and their new coach. Back Sevilla to repeat their weekend away win against Malaga and boost their chances of gaining a Champions League place at PartyBets.com

Related posts:

1. Can Real Mallorca Capitilise on Sevilla Slip
2. La Liga Predictions: Sevilla Will Find Bite In Fourth Spot Dogfight
3. La Liga Predictions: Sevilla To End Real Mallorca’s 100% Home Record

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