FC Barcelona vs. Atletico Madrid: Brisantes duel between Xavi and Diego Simeone
In the course of his player career, Xavi met at FC Barcelona on Atlético Madrid’s coach Diego Sime1. Now the two meet for the first time as a coach on the sideline. A duel that holds great rivalry.
The Laliga game on Sunday (from 16:15 in the Atlético Madrid-LiveTicker) between FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid will be the tenth for Xavi Hernádenz as head coach in the Spanish House. His opposite Diego Simeone is inherently before his 386th match in the Primera División – a great contrast.
But what Xavi is missing experience, he wants to compensate with his own ambition. The duel against the hot-blooded Simeone promises great emotions. And as Atlético goes as a gable one with only one point before pursuer Barca in the duel between master and cup winner, there is a lot on the game.
Both clubs need the three points in the fight for the qualification for the Champions League.
Two very different philosophies
Voltage also promises the top game due to the tactics, but in Xavi and Simeone, there are two very different coaches. The Barca icon sets ball-possession in his team, the march route is always offensive. “El Cholo”, on the other hand, the opponent leaves the chamber and relies on quick switching to ball gain.
How very Xavi is in contrast to Simee’s style, there is a statement of today 42-year-olds from 2016: “I do not like any teams that put in the back,” he said at “Universo Valdano” to protocol and asked for: ” That should not be the approach that a big club should have. “
Simeone then was forced to defend his strategy at a press conference: “I respect all opinions, after all, in the world of football, there is not only this one way. I’m looking for the possibility to get the most out of my players, I just want to win, not the other 1. “
Barcelona does not meet the goal against Atlético
In view of the big differences, a direct comparison of the two coaches is expected with tension. As a player, Xavi and Simeone never opposed in a Laliga game, although both at the same time were under contract with their clubs.
When Xavi with Barca played the capital club between 2003 and 2004 – so at that time as Simeone at Atleti – challenged, matured the Argentine on the bench.
As a coach, Simee’s statistics against the player Xavi falls negative. Only one of ten games won Atlético, five ended draw.
And yet “El Cholo” is likely to travel on Sunday with a broad breast to Barcelona: Although the Catalans won a total of 15 of the 31 games in which Simeone was standing for Atlético on the side line. But None of the last five meetings has lost atlético against the rivals.
In addition, in any of the last three league duels Barcelona achieved a goal – which once again underpin the defensive strength of the Simeone eleven. Even the Xavi wants to change with his offensive spirit.
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