Carlo Ancelotti is relishing one other take a look at towards his previous 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 typically than some other rival of their careers, they’re tied at 9 wins every together with eight attracts.
Madrid and Atleti have already met 3 times this season. Each LaLiga fixtures have been drawn, whereas Simeone’s group received 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 received all 4 of their earlier conferences within the competitors up to now 11 seasons, although, together with the 2014 and 2016 finals.
However Ancelotti’s group have received solely one among their final seven derbies towards 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 towards Juventus I used to be a coach in a recreation that was for the league title,” stated Ancelotti.
“Lazio received they usually took the championship, I believe it was 2000.
Someday to go… pic.twitter.com/1z9YJqwWy6
— Actual Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) March 3, 2025
“Now, as a coach, I respect him quite a bit. He’s an awesome supervisor. He has accomplished very nicely at Atletico, taken them to the very best degree in Europe.
“I like the best way he reads the video games, how he will get the group on the pitch, the technique, the dedication his group has defensively. I like all of those points quite a bit.”
Ancelotti stated that Actual won’t 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 shall be determined within the second leg. The target tomorrow is to play nicely and take a bonus,” Ancelotti stated.
“The match shall be even and aggressive, as a Madrid derby at all times is. It’s a particular match when it comes to feelings and the stress you’re feeling forward of an enormous rivalry recreation.”
