As the Friday draw for the Champions League last 16 looms, Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is filtering out the noise of a potential Liverpool reunion, insisting there is still a “huge amount of work” to be done in Madrid.
Atletico Madrid have officially punched their ticket to the Champions League Round of 16, setting the stage for a high-stakes knockout phase.
Following a dominant 7-4 aggregate victory over Club Brugge in the play-offs capped by a clinical 4-1 win at the Metropolitano Stadium the Spanish giants are now awaiting Friday’s 11am (UK) draw.
The result puts Diego Simeone’s men on a collision course with English opposition. Atletico will face either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the next stage.
For the Reds, the prospect of facing the Rojiblancos is a familiar one the two sides met during the league phase earlier this season, where Liverpool secured a thrilling 3-2 victory.
A club in transition
With Atletico currently out of the La Liga title race and juggling a Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona, the Champions League represents their most viable path to silverware this season. Despite the pressure, Simeone remains focused on the internal evolution of his squad.
“There’s a huge amount of work behind these results, which are starting to be more positive than negative,” Simeone told Marca. “Many players have come in over the last two seasons, and reinventing ourselves isn’t easy.”
The manager highlighted the emotional bond and “commitment” of his players, particularly the impact of his bench:
“When you see the substitutes come on… I still get emotional. When I see that commitment, I feel a strong connection. I’m very proud of the guys. We came up against a team that plays well, that eliminated Atlanta last year… We were better in the second half.”
Ambition beyond the round of 16
While reaching the knockout stages provides a vital financial and global boost for the club, Simeone insists that merely qualifying is not the endgame.
“Without a doubt, it’s extremely important for the club, both financially and globally, but we want more. Hopefully, we have the ability, the talent, and the energy to go further.”
Despite the media buzz surrounding a potential rematch with Arne Slot side or a clash with Spurs, Simeone is keeping his cards close to his chest.
“We’re not thinking about Liverpool or Tottenham. Getting back to the round of 16 is very important. Let’s see if we can improve and advance. The lads have been playing a ton of games.”
Potential opponents and past tensions
Liverpool’s fate remains tied to several moving parts. Depending on the draw and remaining fixtures, they will face either Atletico or Galatasaray.
A reunion between Liverpool and Atletico would certainly carry extra baggage. The history between the two is storied, ranging from Atletico eliminating the Reds in the 2019/20 season to the recent fireworks at Anfield.
Adding fuel to the fire is the recent disciplinary action taken against the Atletico boss. UEFA handed Simeone a one-game ban following a heated confrontation with Liverpool supporters during their 3-2 defeat back in September a “meltdown” that saw him sent to the stands.
While Simeone claims he isn’t looking at Liverpool yet, the luck of the draw may soon force both teams to face their recent history head-on.
Across 10 competitive meetings, the margin for error has been razor-thin.
Head-to-head overview (all competitions)
Statistic Liverpool Atletico Madrid Wins 4 3 Draws 3 3 Goals Scored 15 14
In their most recent meeting, Liverpool secured a 3-2 win at Anfield. Virgil van Dijk sealed the victory with a 92nd-minute header after Atletico had fought back from 2-0 down.
The “heartbreak” at Anfield (2019/20): This is perhaps the most famous tie. After Atletico won the first leg 1-0, Liverpool led 2-0 in extra time at Anfield. However, a Marcos Llorente brace and an Alvaro Morata goal saw Atletico win 3-2 (4-2 on aggregate), knocking the defending champions out.
Champions League group stage (2021/22): Liverpool dominated both legs this season, winning 3-2 in Madrid and 2-0 at Anfield.
Europa League semi-finals (2009/10): A classic Diego Forlan performance. Although Liverpool won the second leg 2-1 at Anfield, Atletico advanced to the final on away goals (2-2 aggregate) and went on to win the trophy.
The upcoming draw (this Friday) will determine if we see an 11th chapter in this rivalry. But then Arne Slot side also has the possibility of facing Galatasaray, who officially eliminated Juventus on Wednesday evening.
