There was unexpected fire in the confrontation between Real Madrid and Leipzig, especially after 0:1 in Germany, but since December 18, when the draw was made in Nyon, the most talked about is the clash between the teams that will decide tonight who will go to the quarterfinals of the Champions League - Atlético and Inter.
The Nerazzurri are in a great series of results, and for the next season, a second star above the logo is being sewn, because a miracle should happen if the team Simone Inzaghi fail to win a 20th Serie A title.
The team from Milan recorded all 13 victories in 2024, and in the whole season experienced only two defeats - on September 27 against Sassuolo in the championship (1:2) and on December 20 against Bologna in the Italian Cup after extra time (also 1:2 ), when Inzaghi sent a combined team to the field.
Ali, Lautaro Martinez and the comrades of this season have not yet experienced the kind of trials they will face tonight at "Metropolitan".
Diego Simeone, his warriors and noisy fans of the "colćoneros" will do everything to make life miserable for the current vice-champion of Europe and reach the quarter-finals of the elite competition.
In the first match, it was clear how difficult a task awaits Atletico, because Inter dominated and deserved to celebrate more convincingly than 1:0.
By the way, the home team is out of form, because they lost 2:0 against Cadiz at the weekend, and in the last nine games they have only won two games. Now he must triumph or the season will be declared a bad one.
"Until the game with Athletic Bilbao at home in the Cup, we had a very good season, but in the last few games the team did not maintain that level of play. I hope we have learned our lessons and will play better. Against Inter, top-level concentration is necessary, whoever is better on that front will win," emphasized Simeone.
In Athletics, they rely on Antoine Griezmann, who returns after an injury at the end of the game at "Giuseppe Meaca".
"His return to the team gives us more solutions and opportunities, both tactically and playing. We will try to enable him to show everything he knows", Ćolo said.
The great Frenchman is also trusted Axel Witzel.
"Grizi makes a big difference against whoever we play. He gives us a lot of strength, it's a lot different when he's not on the field. He is very important for us and we are very happy that he is here again", said the Belgian international.
INZAGI: ATLETICO IS POWERFUL AT "METROPOLITAN"
The disputed Inzagi proved to everyone what kind of coach he is at the end of last and this season, but he is aware that tonight he has a difficult task ahead of him in Madrid.
"Atletico transforms into a phenomenal team when they play at the Metropolitan." In La Liga, he would be the first to play only at home, because in 14 games he has 13 wins and only one draw. We prepared as best we could, knowing how Atlético play in their stadium. We have a minimal advantage and we must not calculate," said Inzaghi.
The Argentine expert has changed his tactics this season, as his team is much more attack-oriented than in previous years. His rival says that he is ready for the rival's offensive game, but also for Ćol's trademark - waiting for counterattacks.
"This season, we played well against teams that were waiting for us, as well as those that tried to attack us. I don't know what Atlético will do, but we know they can change the game during the match. It has players of great quality, the match will be very intense. We have to be calm and overcome difficulties".
Inter is in the 2009/2010 season. win the triple crown under leadership Jose Mourinho, and now he is in the game for that, because he won the Italian Super Cup, is on the threshold of the Scudetto, and is very competitive in the Champions League as well.
"We know the history of Inter, that year was magnificent. But we are building our own way. Last season we played an extraordinary final in Istanbul, with great pride and we want to leave a mark in the history of the club", concluded Inzaghi.
BORUSSIA IS LOOKING FOR A RETURN IN THE ELITE
From 21:2013, the duel between Borussia Dortmund and PSV will be played. Since the 1 final, which they lost to Bayern, the "Millionaires" have only reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League twice, and they haven't had such a chance in a long time, because it was 1:XNUMX in Eindhoven.
Admittedly, ""Philips"" have not lost a single championship this season, which is what he warns about Edin terzić.
"PSV is playing an extremely good season, Peter Bosch he does a great job with his coaching staff. He has an excellent team, which is full of self-confidence, which is what all those victories in the Netherlands speak of. But we want to show that we are ready for the next step, that we deserve to be in the quarterfinals. For that, we need an excellent performance from every player, but also the support of the fans," emphasized Terzić.
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