Miguel Angel Moya declined to say if Atletico Madrid and Barcelona will be direct rivals this season but does feel they’re two of the best teams in Europe.
Atletico host Barca this weekend as La Liga resumes following the break for internationals, but Moya doesn’t feel either side has an advantage with the majority of both squads playing for their countries this week.
“They have players arriving late, like ours, so I don’t think there is any advantage,” he said, Marca reports.
“Barcelona have the potential to replace absences, like we do. Their replacements are first class.
“It’s a game of one-on-one, we’ll see if we’re direct rivals. If we do everything well we can compete with these teams.
“It’s too early to talk about it but it is a duel between two of the best teams in the League and in Europe.
“Our defence is key against Barcelona. It’s more than 50% of the game. Last year we pushed them all the way and we have the chance to do it again.
“It’s important we start this run of games well. That would be a big motivation.”
Moya admitted, however, that he didn’t know if he or Jan Oblak would take the gloves, welcoming the suggestion that he could get the nod for the Champions League, and discussed the make-up of the XI.
“We don’t know who will play in the Champions League. I work to be at my best at all times,” he said.
“If it’s me [playing in the Champions League] then well done to me.
“The spine of the team hasn’t changed. We do have more variation to speed up.”
