Carlo Ancelotti enjoys another test against his old rival Diego Simeone, prior to the collision of Real Madrid with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
On the way to their 27th meeting, with the two coaches who are more often opposed to each other than any other rival in their career, they are tied to nine wins together with eight draw.
Madrid and Atleti have already met three times this season. Both Laliga fixtures were drawn, while the Simeone team won 4-2 in the Copa del Rey.
This will be the 10th encounter between Madrid and Atleti in the European Cup/UEFA Champions League; The joints between teams from the same nation, together with Chelsea versus Liverpool (10).
However, Madrid has won all four of their earlier meetings in the competition in the past 11 seasons, including the final of 2014 and 2016.
But the Ancelotti team has only won one of their last seven derby's against Atleti in all competitions.
And the Italian is looking forward to another passage with Simeone.
“My first memory of him is like a football player at Lazio, when he scored against Juventus, I was a coach in a match that was for the league title,” said Ancelotti.
“Lazio won and they took the championship, I think it was 2000.
One day to go … pic.twitter.com/1z9yjqwwy6
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“Now, as a coach, I respect him a lot. He is a great manager. He has done very well at Atletico, to the highest level in Europe.
“I love the way he reads the games, how he gets the team on the field, the strategy, the dedication that his team has defensive. I really like all these aspects.”
Ancelotti said that Real will not fall into the trap of over-confidence from previous results, because the holders offer on a record-expanding 16th European crown.
“It will be a close relationship that will be decided in the second stage. The goal tomorrow is to play and take advantage,” said Ancelotti.
“The competition will be even and competitive, as a Derby from Madrid is always. It is a special match in terms of emotions and the pressure that you occur for a large rivalry game.”
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