Atlético Madrid are a great team having a bad year. They face Liverpool in the UEFA Europa League this evening, having secured a 1-0 lead in the first leg at home, and receive a welcome boost ahead of the occasion.

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One of the most feared names in European football awaits the Merseyside club tonight: Sergio Agüero. Diego Maradona’s son-in-law returns to the Atlético Madrid side this evening to face Liverpool, and his potent attacking partnership with fellow striker Diego Forlán is an intimidating factor for any opposition.

Although still just 21 years of age, Agüero has scored at least 20 goals in each of his past three seasons at Atlético. Forlán's ratio is even more impressive. He averages a goal every 1.8 matches for the Spanish capital side and is already on 24 this year despite Atlético's underwhelming season.

Because these two players do not play for one of Europe's biggest sides, their achievements are amplified. They do not have players of the calibre of Xavi Hernandez, Paul Scholes, Cesc Fabregas or Wesley Sneijder creating their chances.

Instead, the Atlético Madrid midfielders designated to make chances are José Antonio Reyes, José Manuel Jurado and Simão Sabrosa - good players, but not often mentioned as the world's best.

Atlético have had the oddest of European campaigns this season, and one that has been markedly defined by good fortune.

Three stalemates in their UEFA Champions League group somehow secured them third place as the second most useless team in the table. APOEL Nicosia achieved the same points tally - and finished with a superior goal difference - but in the Champions League group stage when teams are level on points it is head-to-head results that count first.

Both results between Atlético and APOEL Nicosia were draws but, because in Cyprus Atlético scored an away goal, they scraped third place in the group by the skin of their teeth.

This won them a place in the UEFA Europa League and against all odds they have now reached the semi-finals of the competition.

Leaving aside qualification matches, Atlético Madrid have won just one match in Europe this season - a 2-1 victory over Galatasaray in Istanbul. Since then, they have progressed against Sporting Lisbon and Valencia only thanks to away goals after draws in each match, though they enjoyed more than a slice of luck against Valencia.

Los Che striker, Nikola Zigic, was almost certainly about to score a late header that would see Valencia progress but he was blatantly hauled to the ground in the penalty area. Even though the offence was clear and Zigic's shirt was left in tatters, the referee waved play on - to Valencia's disbelief.

Atlético had yet to show their true potential in Europe this season, but last week's home match against Liverpool was an improved performance. A 1-0 win could well have been by an even wider margin, for Liverpool were tame away from home as they have been so many times this season.

In knockout games in European competition, one of the most important disciplines required to advance is avoiding conceding the away goal.

Atlético may have failed to score more than one goal at home but their clean sheet leaves them in good stead for the away leg. An away goal at Anfield would leave Liverpool needing to score three to progress.

However, as has been the case so many times this season in Europe, Atlético Madrid owed much to Lady Luck.

Yossi Benayoun had a perfectly legitimate goal disallowed for offside and, while Atlético were clearly the better side at the Vicente Calderón stadium, some brilliant saves from José Reina kept Liverpool in the tie. Excellent goalkeeping is not down to luck but skill, so Liverpool can consider themselves most unfortunate indeed.

Liverpool will still have high hopes of turning the tie on its head for, although their performance in Madrid was insipid and aimless, they have turned away defeats in Europe around in the return leg at Anfield twice this season already - in the last two rounds against Lille and Benfica.

Liverpool have injury problems, particularly in the striker department with Fernando Torres ruled out and David Ngog and Dirk Kuyt both doubtful for the match. Should Rafa Benitez select an uncharacteristically bold lineup though, and give Alberto Aquilani free reign behind Ryan Babel up front, the Italian could pull the strings for Liverpool.

Aquilani has not been shown much faith for Liverpool this season - in part due to regular injury problems, but when given the opportunity has shown some nice touches. Against Burnley on Sunday, the midfielder made three of the four goals, and his creativity could make the difference - if he gets the chance.

Liverpool will have to be wary though, for Atlético have a strange tendency to perform especially well in the bigger matches. This season they are the only team to have beaten Barcelona in La Liga.

Both Atlético Madrid and Liverpool are having relatively poor seasons domestically, and will place much more than pride in this contest. It is the potential salvation to their season.

Hopefully it will be skill rather than fortune that decides the victor tonight.