A real opposition of styles. Spectators of the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid will attend a duel between two football designs between Atlético by Diego Simeone and Liverpool by Jürgen Klopp on Tuesday as part of the Champions League knockout stages (Tuesday, 9 p.m.) , RMC Sports).
Liverpool back on the coronation site
June 1, 2019. Cries of joy are uttered in the bays and on the lawn of the new Atlético stadium after Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the Champions League final. Klopp remembers this moment as "one of the most beautiful nights of my life". And he may not have woken up from his dream yet. Liverpool probably the best club team in the world currently is unbeaten in the league (76 points out of 78 possible). The teammates of Salah and Mané also came out first of their pool in the Champions League. Their only defeat this year occurred precisely in the group of this same competition at the San Paolo stadium in Naples (2-0). With the exception of this setback, everything seems to be going well for Liverpool, which is not the case for his opponent in the evening.
Throwback to when Divock Origi owned the Wanda Metropolitano, another big #UCL night! #ATMLIV pic.twitter.com/sRn8JBvGJE
- Tas Mavridis (@TasMavridis) February 18, 2020Simeone, a match to rekindle the flame
The institution of Spanish and European football over the past decade is today in danger. Atlético de Simeone is at an important moment in its history and probably at twilight in the event of an unfavorable result on Tuesday. The sawtooth results this season (only two wins in eight matches in 2020, and 10 draws conceded since the start of the season), as much due to the departures of emblematic players like Griezmann or Godín as to the breathlessness of the system Simeone's tactics put him on the hot seat. Will the meager consolation of a return in the form of a Carrasco loan to the winter transfer window when Edinson Cavani was a long time in the sights of the club will it be sufficient?
As for the defect of the young Portuguese João Félix, on whom the Madrid club bet big last summer (126 million euros), it does not argue in favor of Simeone. "I am very respectful of public opinion, criticism is necessary to progress, replied" El Cholo "about doubts about him. Everyone can think what they want, but all that matters, once the match starts, is the facts. "
In the league, the battle for Atlético (4th) to qualify for the next edition of the Champions League is tough and the 2020 final in Istanbul seems far away for this club which has reached this stage of the competition twice ( 2014 and 2016). Nevertheless, hope remains on the Spanish side where it is believed that Simeone is the best tactically armed to shake up the English.
Can the Atlético fortress hold out?
The opposition between the rough and defensive play of Atlético and that made of fluid and rapid transitions specific to Liverpool will be one of the keys. The last confrontation between these teams dates back to 2010, in the Europa League semi-final and ended in a draw on the double confrontation and a qualification by Atlético in overtime.
Since then the actors have changed. The people of Madrid leave with a lot of uncertainty in attack (lack of injury from João Félix, Morata and Costa uncertain). "Playing against Atlético is one of the most difficult things in a footballer's life," admitted Klopp. They are organized, it is a machine to get results. People tell me that this year is not exactly that, but in a period of transition, this is normal. Against them, you never have much chance. It will be very difficult. They are not doing so badly this year, contrary to what some say. "
The number
12. In the last twelve Champions League knockout matches at home, Atlético de Madrid have never lost and have conceded only two goals.