Saturday’s clash between Atletico Madrid and Sevilla goes beyond their rivalry in La Liga as it also marks 25 years since Diego Maradona’s spell in Andalusia.
Atleti boss Diego Simeone on the threat of too much competition: “I don’t take it as something bad, but rather the other way round.
“Great teams grow from great players, and great players know that at great teams, there’s competition.
“It’s clear that the club are growing and need players that know how to compete, thinking about the club and team.
“Maradona? [I have feelings of] joy, happiness… he marked an important step for the club and an important moment for the team.
“As young lads, we felt protected by him. He made us grow. I’m grateful to the times we lived with him.”
Sevilla boss Eduardo Berizzo on facing ‘a direct rival’: “The positions we occupy are the same and that makes us both rivals.
“We’ve both opted for the Champions League, we’re two teams that want the same thing and that makes us direct rivals.
“They’re a great team and it’ll be a tough and difficult match. It’s a match that always involves a lot of strife and strength.
“It’s a clash whereby all aspects of the game are important. We need a complete performance.
“Maradona? I was a little young back them… That Sevilla side with Bilardo and Simeone were a team I followed.
“Maradona’s a point of reference for any Argentine player, for his struggle in transforming his life and where he came from.
“He’s a bit of history for all the young Argentines that wanted to become footballers.”
Atletico Madrid (probable): Oblak; Juanfran, Savic, Godin, Lucas; Koke, Thomas, Saul, Carrasco; Griezmann, Angel Correa
Injuries/suspensions: Augusto (I)
Sevilla (probable): Sergio Rico; Mercado, Carrico, Lenglet, Carole; Pizarro, N’Zonzi, Banega; Jesus Navas, Muriel, Sarabia
Injuries/suspensions: Escudero, Kjaer, Nolito (I)
Referee: Martinez Munuera
Form guide: Atleti (W W D W D) Sevilla (W W W W D)
Previous meeting: Atleti 3-1 Sevilla
Venue: Wanda Metropolitano
Kick-off time: 12:00 BST/13:00 local time
