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Few clashes between Atlético Madrid and Barcelona in recent times have been as delightfully balanced as the one on Saturday night. Atlético, in top form, is coming off eleven consecutive victories to face Barcelona, with both teams tied on points at the top of the La Liga table. The Catalan giants have only managed one win in their last six League games and, having started the season brilliantly, are in a tailspin.
Before the match, Football España sat down with former Atlético goalkeeper and LaLigaTV analyst Roberto Jiménez to get his opinion.
Spain Soccer Question: Starting with the obvious, what do you think of the game and what kind of game do you think will be developed?
Roberto Jimenez: I think we are facing a game gift for football. Look at how both teams are coming to this, look at their form, both teams with 38 points and fighting to be leaders in the last game of the year. It will be a fantastic show for the fans and entertaining.
I think it will make the game quite defensive for Atlético, because they are not going to risk so much. They know perfectly how to play against Barcelona. I also think Atlético will think that the pressure is on Barcelona. So it may not be the game we expect in terms of pace or chances, but as the minutes go by we are going to see a different type of game.
FAITH: So are we more likely to see a more passive approach from Atlético, rather than going in for the kill? We have seen many teams bet early on Barcelona’s high line.
RJ: I think Barcelona will start the game trying to have possession of the ball, moving the Atlético players around the field and getting the fans into the game. Atlético will try to do what they usually do, be calm, trying to maintain their block in the center of the field, not pressing high and not staying on the edge of their area. At least, regarding the start of the game.
FAITH: He made his debut at Atlético the season after Diego Simeone left. Did you cross paths with Simeone when he was an Atlético de Madrid player? What kind of character was he?
RJ: I had the opportunity to know him as a player and as a coach of the team, but it was the season in which I went to Olympiakos. That was what I considered best for me at that time, to try somewhere else, because at that time Thibaut Courtois was number one, so I didn’t see much chance of being number one.
Since then we have faced each other many times, at Olympiakos, and then also when I returned to Spain I had the opportunity to play against Atlético, and we also have friends in common.
He has never been my coach, but we know each other well, you could say.
FAITH: A long time ago, you played against Atlético Madrid in Simeone’s first season while at Real Zaragoza, and you saw them up close and personal during their 2021 title run. What changes have you noticed in Diego’s teams? Simeone in the last 13 years?
RJ: I think the key for Simeone, in this glorious and successful period for Atlético, is that not much has changed. From day one he has given and shown the players, the club and the fans his passion, his football mentality, his key factors to form a strong team and a strong club. He has tried to return Atlético to the big stages of Europe and I think he has succeeded. I don’t think it’s changed much, and that’s the key for me over the last 14 years and era.
FAITH: Is it difficult for Atlético to be a third force? You always have to be there for Real Madrid and Barcelona as Simeone always says, but on the other hand, is it mentally difficult to find the balance between motivation and ambition?
RJ: When I left Atlético I played for a club that was fighting to be between 10th and 5th position. When Simeone arrived at the club, step by step he took them to two Champions League finals, and Europa Leagues, titles, a lot of very important signings. A huge difference in the budget. It is a completely different club than 15 years ago, and that says a lot about it, beyond anything else.
FAITH: However, for the players it is different to play at Olympiakos, where you have to win every game and every title, right? How does that feel as a player? How does that affect you?
RJ: Well, the pressure is different. It is true that Atlético still does not have the pressure it has to win every season, every title, like Real Madrid, Barcelona or in my case Olympiakos. When you are a player, if you are in a place where everyone expects you to be in a position, but you don’t have to win everything, I think that is a positive point for Atlético at this point in the season.
They go to Barcelona, they can win, they have the possibility of winning and the quality to do so, but not the obligation. When you don’t have that pressure, I think it can be a lot easier to get into these games.
FAITH: Returning to the dynamics of the game itself, the big absence is Lamine Yamal. How would you solve it if you were Hansi Flick? Does that alter your approach? Likewise, what effect does this have on Simeone’s plans?
RJ: I think we are very lucky in La Liga to have players like Lamine, not just him, in the entire Barcelona squad. Young players with a lot of quality. I think Flick has a lot of options and doesn’t have to worry about Lamine not being there. They can move Raphinha, Lewandowski, try to put more wingers in attack. And it is true that Barcelona’s system this season with Flick is not the best news for Atlético de Madrid. I think they expect a Barcelona more focused on possession, but this Barcelona is more direct and I’m not sure that suits the type of team Atlético is and the defense they have to do.
I think directness could be one of the keys to the game; If Barcelona wins, I imagine that will be one of the reasons.
FAITH: We’ve seen Barcelona’s record in important games this season (Hansi Flick mentioned it later in his press conference), is it better for them to play against teams with more attacking responsibility? Likewise, Atlético is not the typical big team in terms of approach.
These types of clubs have to follow their mentality in each game. You cannot change your mentality in each game, you cannot go from thinking like Atlético to thinking like Real Valladolid, with all due respect. So you have to keep the same mentality, from the beginning to the end, because people expect you to play a certain way. And that’s what fans also expect.
FAITH: Enjoy the game, thank you very much for your time!
RJ: Enjoy it too, thanks!
Atletico Madrid travel to Barcelona to face the Blaugrana at 21:00 CEST at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
