Espanyol v Atlético Madrid: Preview
Atletico Madrid defender Luis Amarato Perea believes the club from the capital should go for goals away from home just like they do at the Vicente Calderon.
The Colombia international has been a revelation in the Primera Liga this year after joining Atletico from Argentinian giants Boca Juniors in the summer.
He has been praised for his role in what is widely considered the best central defensive partnership in the league, with fellow-newcomer Pablo Ibanez.
The Rojiblancos' rearguard has been the cornerstone for a club that has otherwise failed to impress in other areas.
They once again appear to be relying solely on the precocious talent of Fernando Torres up front, who has netted six of his side's 13 goals to date.
However, closer scrutiny of the statistics reveal that Atletico have only one win in six away from the Calderon.
"Our away form is costing us dear at the moment," Perea told Sports daily El Mundo Atleti ahead of the trip to Espanyol.
"In the Calderon we know that we have to win and we are up for it more and attack more. But away from home our mentality is different, more cautious, and now it is affecting our confidence.
"We have shown that we can do it. Against Sevilla and Valencia we went behind, and had to go for it to get back into the games. We have shown what we are capable of when we put our minds to it.
"In football you have to take risks and I hope we have learned our lesson from these games.
"It was difficult for us all at the start of the season, with a lot of new faces and a new coach, but we are coming together as a team. Now we know what the boss expects of us, and when we follow his instructions things have gone well. We are getting better in every game now."
But coach Cesar Ferrando, who signed a contract extension for another year on Thursday, has more injuries to complicate his plans for the trip to face fourth-placed surprise package Espanyol.
Pablo Ibanez's leg injury looks likely to see Garcia Calvo return in the centre of defence, while Ariel Ibagaza, who has a heavily bruised foot after Sunday's win over Numancia, will probably be missing from the side.
Antonio Lopez's red card last weekend sees him suspended which means Nano may have the chance to reclaim his position on the left of midfield.
After narrowly surviving relegation last year, Espanyol are now riding high in the Champions League places, and like Atletico have built their success on a stingy defence.
With only seven goals conceded, along with the leaders Barcelona, Espanyol have the tightest defence in Spain. But the Catalans are all too aware of the danger posed by Torres, who scored three goals against the Blanquiazules last year.
"He is a great player, dangerous and very fast, and with a great instinct for goals," said former Spain Under-19s team-mate Daniel Jarque. "When he gets going with the ball it is very difficult to stop him.
"People say Atletico have a `Torres-dependency' but I don't believe them. They are strong with or without him. When Salva Ballesta has played alongside him, the facts show they have doubled the number of goals they score."
Espanyol coach Miguel Angel Lotina has some selection problems of his own, with both his first-choice central defenders Alberto Lopo and Mauricio Pochettino suspended. Jarque and Antonio Soldevilla will deputise.
On a positive note, however, midfielder Alex Fernandez has recovered from a back injury and is at Lotina's disposal.
