Diego Simeone defined why he charges Barcelona because the ‘greatest crew in La Liga’ after his Atletico Madrid facet drew with arch-rivals Actual Madrid.
Actual Madrid held on to prime spot within the Spanish top-flight as Kylian Mbappe’s second-half aim cancelled out Julian Alvarez’s first-half penalty on the Bernabeu.
Atletico have been awarded a controversial penalty following a VAR verify after Aurelien Tchouameni was adjudged to have fouled Samuel Lino.
Former Manchester Metropolis ahead Alvarez audaciously chipped the ball down the center previous the diving Thibaut Courtois to silence the house crowd.
A derby win would have despatched Atletico Madrid prime of La Liga however Mbappe scored an equaliser shortly after the interval along with his sixteenth league aim of the season.
Jude Bellingham’s blocked shot gave Mbappe the prospect to degree and the England midfielder continued to threaten as Actual Madrid chased a winner, hitting the crossbar with a header and seeing a shot saved by Jan Oblak.
The rating remained 1-1, nonetheless, leaving Actual Madrid only one level above Atletico Madrid within the La Liga desk and 5 forward of Barcelona, who can minimize the hole once they go to Sevilla on Sunday.
‘I nonetheless insist that Barcelona is the very best crew in La Liga,’ Simeone stated after the Madrid derby.
‘They assault very effectively, they’ve unimaginable pace of their gamers, they usually play very effectively as a crew. Let’s see in the event that they win tomorrow. It’ll be enjoyable to see the journalists take pleasure in this tight race on the prime.’
Discussing his crew’s efficiency within the Madrid derby, Simeone added: ‘I believe within the first half, we had an excellent first half.
‘We weren’t as scientific within the remaining metres to benefit from the probabilities that we had. We might have taken these higher.
‘Within the second half, it began early with their aim, they performed extra intensely within the second half.
‘After 20 minutes or so, we had extra essential probabilities, Julian, Llorente twice, and in the long run it ended with a draw the place each groups in all probability really feel that we might have taken extra.’
Requested whether or not he felt it was a case of two factors dropped reasonably than a degree gained, Simeone added: ‘I respect all opinions. I see what I see, what I stated earlier than.
‘We might’ve taken our probabilities, our counters, controls near the field, slightly higher, with extra readability as we now have in different video games.
‘Within the second half, it was a special sport they usually pushed extra. Their aim, then they hit the woodwork. And it ended with that scenario.
‘There have been probabilities to take the sport, however we couldn’t do it clearly. That meant that we had to attract. Clearly, we had the sensation that we might’ve gained it for a lot of the sport.’
Actual Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, in the meantime, felt his crew ‘deserved extra’ and refused to debate Atletico’s controversial penalty.
‘I believe we deserved extra,’ he stated. ‘It was an excellent sport within the second half. The primary half was completely completely different.
‘We got here out with good emotions, particularly within the second half. The penalty scenario affected the crew. We performed too slowly earlier than.
‘Within the second half we took benefit of the width of the sphere. It was a detailed, aggressive match. As I stated, we got here out of the match with a draw, however inspired.’
Actual Madrid now flip their attentions to a mouth-watering Champions League play-off conflict in opposition to Manchester Metropolis.
Atletico Madrid, already safely by means of to the knockout phases, face Celta Vigo subsequent weekend.
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