Atletico Madrid -Baas Diego Simeone feels an opportunity to end their gloomy run against Real Madrid by beating them out of the Champions League.
The city rivals have signed each other in this competition four times in the past 11 seasons, with Atletico on the losing side all four times, especially in the final of 2014 and 2016.
On the way to the latest chapter of their rivalry in the largest stage in Europe, Atletico is in better form than their opponents and his second in the LaLiga classification, two points for the Real.
“We are confronted with a rival that we respect. We know our strengths, we play our full potential and we will try to bring the game to a place where we can hurt them,” said Simeone.
“History exists and the history of Madrid in the Champions League is extraordinary. Tomorrow we get a new chance.
“I have always put Barcelona and Madrid where they are because of the history they have, but we are pure growth, which is very nice.
“For the city it is spectacular – and for Spain, to be able to have a Spanish team in the quarterfinals. We are going to play, to enjoy it.”
Champions League is back! pic.twitter.com/cufckkwiyey
– Atlético de Madrid (@Atletienglish) 3 March 2025
This will be the 10th encounter between Atletico and Real in the Euopean Cup of Champions League, the joint meetings between teams from the same nation together with Chelsea versus Liverpool.
Real has only lost one of their last 17 games in the knockout phase of this competition and were only eliminated twice by a Spanish side in 12 tires.
If Atletico got better, they need the 25-year-old striker Julian Alvarez to shoot at all cylinders.
The Argentina International, who scored 1-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday in Atletico's 1-0, has scored 21 times in all competitions since he signed Manchester City in a deal that is reportedly worth € 75 million.
Simeone said: “He is very young. He has to continue this way, he must continue to develop, he has room for improvement.
“Hopefully his teammates and the coaching staff will help him grow. He looks full with energy, with the desire to do more. That will influence his growth.”
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