The worst rivals in the Champions League

He Atlético de Madrid received this Saturday (2 pm) at Girona in Cívitas Metropolitano in a rivalry that could be decisive in the battle of both teams to be in the Champions League next season.

A competition in which the red and white team still lives, which on Wednesday played the first leg of the quarterfinals against Borussia Dortmund (2-1 for the colchoneros) and on Tuesday they return to visit the Germans at Signal Iduna Park.

At Atlético the excitement is greatest in the Champions League, but the obligation is LaLiga. And especially when the fourth place is not safe, with Athletic just two points away and eight rounds left to play.

In this sense, the clash before the Girona takes on a special relationship. And the Catalan team is not the best rival for Atlético during the waiting period between the round trips of the Champions League. The numbers speak for themselves, and they say that Simeone’s men have only managed to beat the red and white team in three of the nine duels they have played.

Of course, all three came in the last four matches, but before that it became clear that Girona, who were not at this level then, succumbed to Atlético. And we had to wait until the sixth game for the victory to be a mattress. In the last five, five draws, including elimination from the Copa del Rey in 18/19.

When it comes to seeing the glass as half full, it’s true that Girona have only beaten Atlético once in those nine duels. It was in the last one, which took place on January 3 of the same year in Montilivi. An exciting match that ended with the home side falling in stoppage time (4-3) thanks to a goal from Ivan Martin after those Cholo They will level the clash up to twice. The hat trick of Morata It’s not enough to score.