Simeone eyes long-awaited win against Barca
AFP
AFP, MADRID: Diego Simeone has one of the few feats to elude his hugely successful spell in charge of Atletico Madrid in his sights on Wednesday by claiming a first win in nine attempts at Barcelonas Camp Nou.
Simeones biggest achievement as Atletico boss came in winning La Liga at Camp Nou with a 1-1 draw in 2014, but despite also dumping Barca out of the Champions League in two of the last three seasons, the Argentine has yet to taste victory in the Catalan capital.
In almost all the games that we havent been able to win it has been due to the merit of Barcelona. We have drawn a few games, but possibly we have never deserved to win based on the 90 minutes.
Atletico went ahead in both meetings between the sides at the Camp Nou last season before their quest was undone by early red cards for Filipe Luis and Diego Godin in a 2-1 La Liga defeat in January and for Fernando Torres as Barca won by the same score in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final in April.
Barcas deadly front three of Luis Suarez, Lionel Messi and Neymar have proved too hot even for Atleticos watertight defence to handle, and Simeone insisted Barca remain the best team in Spain despite trailing early La Liga leaders Real Madrid by three points.
The truth is yes (Barca are the best team). They continue to play brilliant football and have the players that most make the difference individually and collectively. Despite the fact they didnt win the Champions League last year, that puts them in an incredible place.
However, Atletico can call on a in-form, superstar forward of their own in Antoine Griezmann.
Euro 2016s top scorer has scored four times in his last two La Liga games as Atletico have bounced back from draws against Alaves and Leganes to open their league campaign to thrash Celta Vigo and Sporting Gijon.
And Simeone backed a campaign led by French sports daily LEquipe on Tuesday for Griezmann to end Messi and Real Madrids Cristiano Ronaldos dominance of the Ballon dOr for the past eight years.
Hopefully Antoine will be there because last year he had an enormous season. He has started strongly again this year, added Simeone.
The other day he played as a second striker and ended up defending like a second defensive midfielder.
He is a player that offers us that option and hopefully he maintains that ambition that allows him to aspire to more every day.
Meanwhile, Fernando Torres believes Atletico Madrid travel to Barcelona on Wednesday at just the right time after emphatically bouncing back with three wins over the past week.
Its a good time to visit Barcelona, Torres said after netting twice in Atleticos 5-0 thrashing of Sporting Gijon on Saturday.
It seems like they are playing as we have become accustomed to. They are the most difficult opponent we have faced in the last few years without a doubt and we know how difficult it will be.
But when you are winning and playing well it always gives you that little more confidence.
Atletico scored 10 times and kept three clean sheets in seeing off Celta Vigo, PSV Eindhoven and Sporting in eight days.
However, they already trail city rivals Real by four points after disappointing draws against Alaves and Leganes to open the campaign.
We just needed to find the goals because we have been consistent in the way we have played despite the two draws in the first two games, added Torres.
The team is confident and now we have the toughest game we have had until now.
Despite dumping Barca out of the Champions League twice in the past three years, Atletico havent won at the Camp Nou since Torres scored twice in a 3-1 victory during his first stint at the club in 2006.
Barca also hit five at the weekend against newly promoted Leganes to back up their 7-0 hammering of Celtic in the Champions League with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar scoring 10 times in their first two starts of the season together up front.
However, a shock home defeat to Alaves earlier this month leaves Luis Enriques men three points behind Real in the early running for the title race.
Real can extend their lead at the top before Barca and Atletico kick off and set a La Liga record with a 17th straight win at home to Villarreal earlier on Wednesday.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale missed Sundays 2-0 win at Espanyol due to illness and injury respectively. However, both returned to training on Monday and are expected to start.
Victory at the weekend saw Real set a new club record for consecutive league wins and match the 16 straight wins Barcelona managed under Pep Guardiola in 2010/11.
Villarreal, though, are unbeaten in the league this season as back-to-back wins have taken the Yellow Submarine up to sixth after a disrupted pre-season due to the sacking of coach Marcelino days before the campaign got under way.
Sevilla can move up to second on Tuesday if they continue their dominance of the Seville derby over Real Betis.
The Europa League holders havent lost in the league to Betis in four years and are strong favourites for one of Spains most passionate encounters.
At the bottom of the table Valencia are looking to pick up their first points of the season when Alaves visit the Mestalla on Thursday with Valencia boss Pako Ayestarans job on the line.
