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Tuesday, 14 April 2015

Atletico Madrid v Real Madrid


Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is expecting a high-intensity clash when his side face-off against rivals Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final first-leg at the Vicente Calderon Stadium.

Atletico were only a minute away from winning the club's first Champions League trophy against Real last season before a stoppage-time Sergio Ramos goal, followed by three more in extra-time, allowed Carlo Ancelotti's team to run out 4-1 winners. 

Atletico have responded in style to that disappointment by winning four and drawing two of the six Madrid derbies this season - including a 4-0 trouncing of their city rivals at the Vicente Calderon in February.

But Simeone is hoping to draw inspiration from their famous victory against Madrid two years ago in the Copa del Rey final. 

"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 forsee 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."

Despite ending Real Madrid and Barcelona's 10-year dominance of the Spanish league last season, Simeone insists Los Rojiblancos cannot be expected to compete with the country's powerhouses over a 38-game campaign.

However, under Simeone Atletico have become cup specialists - winning the Europa League, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercup and reaching the final of the Champions League for the first time in 40 years.

"In a league campaign of so many games you can see who are the teams with the biggest budget," added the Argentine.

"In a knockout tie the difference is reduced. Tomorrow is the first of two games and both sides have a chance to go through."


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