Antoine Griezmann says Atletico Madrid will be treating Wednesday’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid as if it was the final itself.
The sides drew 0-0 in their quarter-final first leg tie at the Vicente Calderon last week, but Griezmann believes Los Rojiblancos are capable of scoring in the return and causing Carlo Ancelotti’s men problems.
“It’s a final for us. We are aware they are playing on their home ground but we know we can score there at any time and that gives us confidence,” he told EFE.
“We just want to give everything and try to reach the semi-finals. For me it’s my first Champions League quarter-finals and I’m enjoying it.”
Atleti have not lost in the last seven derbies against their cross-city rivals and the Frenchman feels last week’s game was not a bad result for his side.
“Any result where you don’t lose is good and we’re happy not to have conceded, so we must continue to do so, but we have to be prepared to suffer and if we do that then we’ll be ready for anything.
“We are pleased with how we’ve done against Madrid recently and hopefully it will be the same on Wednesday, although the truth is that each game has its own history.
“Real Madrid will give everything in front of their own fans and they will also want to reach the last four.”
Griezmann says he is unsure if Los Blancos will be weakened by the loss of Luka Modric in central midfield after the Croatian suffered a knee injury in the defeat of Malaga at the weekend.
“I don’t know if they’ll be affected by his absence. We have to concentrate on our own game. Right now we are preparing to play against whoever they select.
“Modric is a great player who helps them a lot in the middle of the pitch, but they also have other players who can replace him quite easily,” he warned.