Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid eye fourth UCL semifinal in 10 years

By
Prosper Kuzo
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It’s a team that have turned their fortunes around in Spanish football, Atletico Madrid.

A team that has produced enormous talents in the beautiful game, one that may not be as great as Barcelona or Real Madrid, yet Diego Simeone’s team have shown competence in Europe and La Liga to compete for silverware.

How did all the elements begin to fall into place?

Appointed as Atletico boss in December 2011, Simeone began to generate a plan that would shape his team in a way that improved the club in terms of competitiveness and quality on the pitch.

10 years later, the team secured two La Liga titles(2014/2021), two Europa League titles, two UEFA Super Cups, a Copa del Rey trophy, and have finished twice as runners up of the Champions League (2013/14, and 2015/16)

This year in Europe’s premium club competition, Atletico Madrid went on to defy the odds yet again. Topping Group E which housed Lazio, Feyenoord, and Celtic. However, their real test was in the last 16 round where they faced last year’s finalists and three-time winners Inter Milan.

It was the battle of the Simeones. Atleti’s Diego Simeone set to face Inter’s Simeone Inghazhi.

The first battle was won by Inter, who approached the second leg with a 1-0 advantage courtesy of a Marko Arnautović strike. Inter were unbeaten in 19 matches in the competition and looked favorites to pull through to the next round of the competition.

However, Antoine Griezmann and Memphis Depay cancelled out an early strike from Federico Dimarco, and the game had to be settled after 120 minutes of enthralling action.
Atletico managed to grab the win on penalties and reached their first quarter final for the first time since the 2021/2022 season.

Simeone’s side faced Borussia Dortmund in their first-leg encounter at the Wanda Metropolitano, and managed to grab the advantage with a 2-1 win.

Yet there’s a lot to play for in the second quarter-final, and Dortmund will have their home crowd rallying support behind them to deny Atlético their fourth semi-final in the last 10 years.

Now, let’s review their last three semi-final performances over the past decade and consider how reaching the finals in two out of three instances could contribute to their experience and confidence for the upcoming second-leg clash in Germany.

Chelsea 1-3 Atletico Madrid (2013/2014)

The first leg encounter ended in a goalless draw at the Wanda Metropolitano with the likes of Diego Costa and David Villa in Atlètico’s fold under Simeone.

The second-leg clash however saw Cholo’s side stun the Blues at Stamford Bridge after going a goal down after a 36th minute strike from Fernando Torres at the time. Adrian Lopez, Diego Costa and Arda Turan rose up to the occasion to aid Atlètico’s pursuit of the Champions League final, yet they dramatically lost to Real Madrid in extra time in a 4-1 result that year.

Atletico Madrid 2-2 Bayern Munich (2015/2016)

One of the best years for Saul Niguez in an Atlético Madrid shirt. Also, the peak of Antoine Griezmann as the link between the attack and defense for Atlètico, and the return of the legendary Fernando Torres back to Spain.

Atlètico managed to grab the advantage after the first leg with a 1-0 victory through a Saul Niguez strike yet looked far from reaching a second final in three years with the Allianz Arena as their stop in their pursuit of glory.

Bayern struck twice through Robert Lewandowski and Xabi Alonso at home, yet Antoine Griezmann managed to grab that crucial away goal that led Atleti to secure another final against Real Madrid.

The Red and Whites however lost to Los Blancos in the final that year on penalties, with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring the decisive spot kick in the shootout for the Meringes’ 11th title.

Real Madrid 4-2 Atletico Madrid (2016/2017)

One name in the 2016/2017 season that football fans will not forget is the great Cristiano Ronaldo. Atletico faced their city rivals once more a year later in the Champions League. This time, in the semi-final. Ronaldo exploded into life with a hattrick in the first-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, and although Atlético won the second-leg with a 2-1 win, they crashed out of the competition and have never reached the last four since that period.

Now Atletico face Dortmund away from home with a chance to reach the semi-final again for the first time in seven seasons, and the Red and Whites will look to do everything in their power to realise that dream, yet Simeone will have to get his tactics right as Eden Terzic looks to earn Dortmund a last-four slot for the first time in 11 seasons.

Signal Iduna Park will be buzzing with noise and an intense atmosphere, yet Atlético appears to be the favorites. With determination and a favorable outcome, they can inch closer to achieving glory.