Diego Simeone claims Atletico Madrid can challenge Barcelona

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone expressed confidence that his team can compete with Barcelona for the La Liga title. Despite trailing the leaders by five points, Simeone noted that Atletico is currently on a five-match winning streak in the league.

While acknowledging Barcelona’s strength, Simeone emphasized that the immediate focus remains on their upcoming fixture against Deportivo La Coruña. He cautioned that Deportivo is a resilient opponent, recalling the difficulties they faced against them in a previous Copa del Rey match.

Atletico Madrid faces squad challenges ahead of the match, with midfielder Jonny Cardoso ruled out due to injury, and Koke and Cristian Romero expected to miss the game. However, Kang-in Lee has returned to availability. The match also carries personal significance for Simeone, as he will face former long-time Atletico defender José María Giménez, who is currently playing for Deportivo on loan.