Simeone Emphasises Game-by-Game Focus Ahead of Tests Against Barca and Real

Atletico Madrid’s head coach, Diego Simeone (54), has emphasised the importance of taking each match as it comes as his squad prepares to clash with Barcelona in the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final on Tuesday, followed by a Champions League showdown against Real Madrid amidst a challenging fixture schedule.

This demanding five-week period involves a two-legged encounter with Real in the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition, along with another face-off against Barcelona in LaLiga. Atletico currently trails both teams by just one point in a tightly contested title race.

“The crucial factor, the only approach, is to focus on each match day-by-day,” Simeone stated during a press conference on Monday.

“We’re filled with excitement and eager to compete, aiming to approach each game in the best possible manner. To achieve this, our sole focus is on tomorrow’s fixture.

“It’s a significant game, but it’s just one part of a two-legged battle; one on their ground and another on ours. We’ll strategise to exploit their weaknesses.”

The second leg will occur on April 2 at the Metropolitano.

Atletico is set to face Barca on Wednesday, two months after their last meeting in late December, where they staged a comeback to triumph 2-1 in an exhilarating LaLiga match.

Simeone mentioned that his players are prepared to endure challenges in what promises to be a fierce contest against the current LaLiga leaders.

“When facing formidable teams, you need to be ready to resist and endure hardship,” Simeone commented.

“Both teams will have their moments, and it’s crucial to capitalise on them. It was evident in the 1-1 draw against Real Madrid, where each side had their better phases.

“We have a clear strategy that we’ll practice with the players beforehand. We’re up against an opponent whose playing style I really admire. They possess tremendous attacking prowess, and we’ll aim to target them where we believe we can inflict damage.”