Atletico de Madrid vs Barcelona - Barcelona still best team in world, warns Simeone
Posted Sunday, February 26, 2017 by PA
Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has dismissed suggestions this could be the ideal time to face Barcelona, insisting the reigning LaLiga champions remain the best team on the planet despite recent wobbles.
The spotlight is on Barca and their under-pressure coach Luis Enrique in the wake of their 4-0 Champions League drubbing by Paris St Germain and subsequent under-par showing at home to Leganes last weekend.
In that match Barca needed a stoppage-time Lionel Messi penalty to escape with a 2-1 win, and remain within one point of leaders Real Madrid.
Barca's apparent struggles could spell good news for Atletico, who began the weekend seven points behind Real in the title race, but Simeone is taking it all with a pinch of salt.
Asked if Barca's level has dipped from recent years, Simeone told a press conference: "No. It's difficult to compete as they have in this era. They have won eight titles with Luis Enrique. They have always competed at the best level.
"One bad game can happen to any team, as possibly happened to them in Paris.
"There's never a special time to play them. It's a difficult game, important, like always when we play against Barcelona. They are still the best team in the world."
Atletico have kept alive their title hopes with three successive victories but they still trail Real by a sizeable gap and have also played a game more than their city rivals.
With that in mind, a defeat to Barcelona could well prove terminal to the Rojiblancos' hopes of emulating their 2014 championship success, especially if Real also manage to win away at Villarreal on Sunday.
Simeone, though, is not looking too far ahead.
"We're thinking of this game, no more than that. There's a lot left to play for. If you draw three successive games you can fall out of the fight," he said.
Atletico welcome back centre-back Diego Godin after injury as they look to improve on a miserable recent record against Barca, which has seen them win just two of the last 22 matches between the pair.
Barca, who knocked Atletico out of the Copa del Rey semi-finals earlier this month, are still in the running for three trophies this season despite their supposed problems.
The Champions League may now be out of reach, needing to score at least four times in the last-16 second leg against PSG, but they are also in the Copa del Rey final and will go top of LaLiga if results go their way this weekend.
"Our objective tomorrow is have a great game and win the three points," said coach Enrique.
"They (Atletico) are going to present us with the same difficulties as always, although it will be a different game to the cup."
Enrique admits it is a "very important" game for both teams, but does not believe it will be decisive in the title race.
He added: "There are a lot of weeks left and it's clear that it's very difficult to win every game.
"Any team can lose points in any game, so I don't think it will be a key match."
Barca are waiting on the fitness of defensive duo Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba.
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