Carlo Ancelotti is relishing one other check in opposition to his outdated rival Diego Simeone, forward of Actual Madrid’s conflict with Atletico Madrid within the Champions League.
Heading into their twenty seventh assembly, with the 2 coaches having confronted one another extra usually than every other rival of their careers, they’re tied at 9 wins every together with eight attracts.
Madrid and Atleti have already met thrice this season. Each LaLiga fixtures have been drawn, whereas Simeone’s workforce gained 4-2 within the Copa del Rey.
This would be the tenth assembly between Madrid and Atleti within the European Cup/UEFA Champions League; the joint-most between groups from the identical nation, together with Chelsea versus Liverpool (10).
Madrid have gained all 4 of their earlier conferences within the competitors previously 11 seasons, although, together with the 2014 and 2016 finals.
However Ancelotti’s workforce have gained solely one in all their final seven derbies in opposition to Atleti in all competitions.
And the Italian is wanting ahead to a different go-around with Simeone.
“My first reminiscence of him is as a footballer with Lazio, when he scored in opposition to Juventus I used to be a coach in a sport that was for the league title,” mentioned Ancelotti.
“Lazio gained and so they took the championship, I believe it was 2000.
In the future to go… pic.twitter.com/1z9YJqwWy6
— Actual Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) March 3, 2025
“Now, as a coach, I respect him lots. He’s an important supervisor. He has achieved very nicely at Atletico, taken them to the best stage in Europe.
“I like the way in which he reads the video games, how he will get the workforce on the pitch, the technique, the dedication his workforce has defensively. I like all of those elements lots.”
Ancelotti mentioned that Actual is not going to fall into the lure of over-confidence from earlier outcomes because the holders bid for a record-extending sixteenth European crown.
“It’s going to be an in depth tie that will likely be determined within the second leg. The target tomorrow is to play nicely and take a bonus,” Ancelotti mentioned.
“The match will likely be even and aggressive, as a Madrid derby all the time is. It’s a particular match by way of feelings and the stress you are feeling forward of a giant rivalry sport.”
