Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is eyeing a spot in the UEFA Champions League final after his side’s narrow 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen at the Metropolitano on Tuesday night, Afrosport reports.
Atleti fell behind to a first-half goal by Piero Hincapie after Pablo Barrios was shown a straight red card. Former Manchester City forward Julian Alverez was able to level for the Spanish side in the 52nd minute before Hincapie was given his marching orders.
The game looked destined for a draw but Alvarez popped up with the winner deep in added time to give Simeone’s side three points and strengthen their quest to automatically make it into the round of 16.
“I didn’t get carried away. I say what I would like. I want to play in the final like all the coaches that are in the Champions League. I didn’t say anything extraordinary or new,” the Argentine tactician said.
“He [Alvarez] came to give us what he’s giving us. I think we always think about him in the present and I have no doubt that in the future I hope he can stay here for many years at the club, why? Because we will enjoy him because he has humility, hard work, hierarchy, talent, goals. He is a very noble boy and the truth is that he has adapted from a little to a lot in this team in an incredible way.”
You have been Simeoned. pic.twitter.com/ZUl2AkhH3l
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) January 21, 2025
Meanwhile, Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is not dwelling on the result but is rather focusing on the final league phase game against Sparta Prague
“Right now, the feelings aren’t the best, but that’s what football is all about, about taking the blows, making it last for a short time and looking to the next one.
“There’s not much time to waste. We have the following week the home game [versus Sparta Prague]. We are looking for victory. We know that now the top eight has become very difficult for us. We’ll try to get as high as possible and we’ll probably have to play one more round after the result [in the play-offs].”
The result moved Atletico Madrid up to third on the table while Leverkusen dropped down to sixth.
