He Atlético de Madrid receives this Tuesday at the Metropolitano Tottenham English in the first leg of the round of 16 of the Champions League. The paradox of the draw has meant that the three Spanish teams face three English teams, with different luck; but for the colchoneros it has not been the worst.
Simeone does not see himself as a favorite against Tottenham and praises the superior pace of the Premier
This time the goddess of fortune wanted to give the red and white team another revenge. There is only one precedent between Atlético and Tottenham: the final of the 1963 European Cup Winners’ Cupwhich the Londoners won clearly (5-1). They then became the first English team in a UEFA competition, since they resisted entering when they were founded.
More than 60 years have passed and the colchoneros now have a more competitive version than before, since they have become one of the regulars in the Champions League qualifiers, while the Tottenham look for your best version after end of 2019 in Madrid, which ended up losing against Liverpool.
The English were classified in the ‘top 8’ in fourth position, but they are in a critical situation in the Premier Leaguewhere they are just one point above the relegation places. The Croatian coach Igor Tudorwhich arrived in February as a replacement for Thomas Frankhas failed to win in any of its three games against Arsenal, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
The team was already on a negative streak before Frank’s departure, with a defeat against Manchester United y Newcastlewhich led to the dismissal of the Danish coach.
Simeone recovers Barrios: all available
On the other hand, Atlético arrives on a positive streak with three league wins and the elimination of Bruges in the Champions League. In the Copa del Rey semi-finals they fell 3-0 in the second leg at the Camp Nou against Barça, but they made the 4-0 win in the first leg count to celebrate their return to a final. In short, good news despite the setback.
In addition to the historical debt with Tottenham, Diego Simeone’s men have it this season with the Premier teams, since they lost against Liverpool (3-2) on the first day and 4-0 against Arsenal on day 3.
Apart from the story, the match brings another reunion with the midfielder Connor Gallagher, transferred from Atlético to Tottenham. Also from the Spanish side Pedro Porronot because of its red-and-white past, but because of its origin. Both are available, but six other players are not among Tudor’s list of casualties.
The ones that Tottenham does have are the Brazilian Richarlison and the french First Class for the attack, two of its main assets. At Atlético there could be the return of Pablo Barrios once he got over his injury. With the return of the youth squad, he has his entire squad available.
