Foot & Soccer Soccer Match Reports, Football News 
After enjoying out an enthralling 4-4 draw within the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final tie in February, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid will lock horns once more this week with a spot within the remaining on the road.
Atletico are going by way of a tough section of late, with outcomes not going their manner, whereas Barça are thriving beneath Hansi Flick, extending their unbeaten streak in 2025.
Diego Simeone plans huge change
As such, AS now reviews that Atletico Madrid supervisor Diego Simeone has made the choice to undertake an attacking type of their upcoming match towards Barcelona.
Simeone was extra intense than ever throughout Atleti’s coaching session forward of their match towards Barça. The Argentine coach was absolutely immersed within the preparation, demanding bravery, audacity, and even toughness – not for defending, however for attacking.
This time, Simeone needs his staff to take the sport to their opposition, not simply chase the ball.
Simeone’s message was clear: it shouldn’t be simply Atletico working after the ball, it must be Barcelona too. The plan is to make Flick’s aspect fear concerning the Rojiblancos’ attacking play as a substitute of simply dictating the sport.
Simeone plans to modify issues up. (Picture by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Photographs)
In certainly one of his most animated coaching classes in current reminiscence, the Atletico boss repeatedly corrected his gamers, pushing them to be extra brave and proactive.
He reminded them that they’re top-level gamers and urged them to take dangers, dribble previous opponents, and do the sudden to unsettle the Blaugrana.
To implement his concepts, Simeone arrange a follow match towards Atletico’s youth gamers. The directions to the children had been easy: pressure fast choices beneath strain, press relentlessly, and provides no area to gamers to construct up play.
Simeone centered on fast passing sequences and launching assaults into area. He instructed Marcos Llorente on one flank and Giuliano on the opposite to stretch Barcelona’s defence, utilizing their velocity as weapons.
Gamers like Antoine Griezmann and Julian Alvarez had been tasked with dropping deep to hyperlink up play earlier than surging ahead to complete assaults.
Simeone’s plan would possibly work or it would fail, however one factor is for certain: he’s dedicated to a special method. His gamers are absolutely conscious that this is not going to be a typical Atletico efficiency.
