Porto Coach Paulo Fonseca has outlined his respect for this week’s opponents Atletico Madrid, and also the need to beat them.
The Portuguese play host to Diego Simeone’s side this Tuesday evening at the Estadio do Dragao in the second round of group stage matches of the Champions League.
With both teams tied at the top of Group G on three points after matchday one, Porto’s Coach is aware of the value three further points carry this midweek.
“We know the importance of the home games, and it is very important for us to win our next two matches here in order to have a comfortable margin to face what’s left of the group,” mused Fonseca to reporters today.
“I have the team decided in my head, the XI for tomorrow is already chosen. We will face a very strong team, motivated by their last results, but we are also motivated and ready to face them.
“Each game has difficulties, and this team will pose us problems to solve, problems that we do not have in our championship.
“I consider Atletico an Italian team in a Spanish championship. They are very deep when they defend, but they are also very balanced.
“We have to be a team which manages all the moments of the game without losing that balance. Also, we need to have lots of patience to find the spaces which are almost non-existent in their defence.”
