FC Barcelona has truly been a force to be reckoned with this season in Europe. Across both La Liga and the UEFA Champions League, the Catalan giants have been a formidable side for any team to beat. However, some teams are regular hurdles for even Barcelona each season.
One such team would be Atletico Madrid, hailing from the same city as Barça’s arch-rivals Real Madrid. Led by Diego Simeone, this particular team is almost always up there competing with La Blaugrana and Los Blancos for the top places in the league.
Soon, both Hansi Flick’s Barcelona and Simeone’s Atletico Madrid will clash as well before this year ends. That game in particular is expected to be a great challenge for both coaches, but the level of respect seems to be as high as possible heading into that game.
As highlighted by Mundo Deportivo, Simeone revealed in a recent interview with Telemundo Deportes that Hansi Flick’s Barcelona was a team that he considered to be among his three favorite teams in Europe right now, and sent a lot of praise towards the Catalan giants:
“I really, really like FC Barcelona, especially how they’re playing… I don’t know if they’ll be able to maintain this intensity—with so much high pressing and leaving plenty of space behind to defend—but they’ve got young players that Flick has brought into the fold at just the right time.”
Moreover, he went on to state that the football that Barcelona plays is something that he really enjoys watching and labelled it as something ‘beautiful’ because of the way that Hansi Flick’s side plays the game:
“The football they’re playing is the kind you enjoy watching—it’s beautiful. Quick breaks, pressing, space behind, one-on-one duels… They’re doing it all very well.”
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MADRID, SPAIN - APRIL 21: Pau Cubarsi and Ronald Araujo of FC Barcelona inspect the pitch prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on April 21, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.
Barcelona defender Ronald Araujo with Hansi Flick.
BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 20: Ansu Fati of FC Barcelona runs with the ball during the La Liga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Sevilla FC at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on October 20, 2024 in Barcelona, Spain.
Before the game against Atletico Madrid, however, Hansi Flick will need to focus on Leganes. Fortunately for him, his team will be heading into that particular game with some additional help expected to be there.