Simeone expects intense derby

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone expects his side’s Champions League quarter final against rivals Real Madrid to be a high-intensity affair.

It will be something of a grudge encounter for Simeone and his charges after they came to within a minute of wining the competition against the same opponents last year, before Sergio Ramos’ injury-time goal changed everything.

Madrid went on to win the final 4-1 after scoring three more goals in extra time.

However, since then Atletico have had a stranglehold on the derby games with Los Blancos, winning four and drawing two of the six games between the two clubs this season.

It’s a record Simeone will want to keep intact as they prepare to take on Madrid in the first leg of the quarter-final at the Vincente Calderon Stadium on Tuesday.

The last time the two sides met at this ground, Atletico emerged emphatic 4-0 winners but Simeone says that result has no bearing on their upcoming fixture.

“I am not looking back at the previous games. To play in the quarter-finals of the Champions League is not the same as a league game or the Copa del Rey,” he said.

“We have a great game ahead of us and our intention is to play with intensity. I foresee a similar game to the one we played two years ago in their stadium (Copa del Rey final).

“They played with great intensity and I imagine it will be very similar tomorrow.”