Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is expecting a thrilling battle.
Atletico Madrid faces a tough challenge in the first stage of the Champions League knockout rounds. To secure a spot in the quarter-finals, they must go up against defending champions and record 15-time winners, Real Madrid. However, Simeone is confident that his team is fully prepared for the battle.
In this season’s revamped Champions League format, Atletico Madrid secured a direct spot in the Round of 16 by finishing in the top eight. Real Madrid, on the other hand, had to go through the playoffs, overcoming Manchester City to reach this stage.
Currently, Real Madrid and Atletico sit second and third in La Liga, separated by just a single point. In their two league encounters this season, Carlo Ancelotti’s side has failed to beat Atletico, with both matches ending in 1-1 draws.
Historically, though, Real Madrid has dominated their European meetings, famously defeating their city rivals in the finals of the 2013-14 and 2015-16 Champions League seasons.
The draw for the Round of 16 took place on Friday. Shortly after, Simeone attended a press conference ahead of Atletico’s La Liga match against Valencia. When asked about facing Real Madrid, the Argentine coach kept his response brief.
“I will answer just one question about this… The rivalry between us is fantastic. It will be a great battle, and we are ready.”
