Simeone Targets Champions League Final with Atletico

Before Tuesday’s match with Bayer Leverkusen, Diego Simeone claimed Atletico Madrid are looking to win the Champions League and keep their form going. Atletico Madrid are the only side to reach three Champions League finals without winning, losing to Real Madrid in 2014 and 2016 under Simeone.

Bayer Leverkusen, on an 11-match winning streak across all competitions, will visit the hosts, while Atleti’s 15-match winning streak ended on Saturday with a 1-0 LaLiga loss to Leganes.

Two Champions League matches remain in the new league phase of eight, with the top eight qualifying automatically for the final 16.

Simeone claimed the game was crucial to their top-eight push: “We will compete with our goal in mind. The club has never won the Champions League, and we want to reach that final, which we cherish.”

Teams ranking ninth to 24th will play two-legged knockout playoffs to advance to the last 16. Xabi Alonso’s side Leverkusen is fourth in the Champions League with 13 points from six games, while Atleti is 11th, a point behind.

Simeone praised Alonso, a former Real Madrid midfielder, after Leverkusen won their first Bundesliga title undefeated last season.

“As he did last season, Xabi is doing well and on course to replicate it. He described his view of football from the centre of the pitch, where it is best seen “added.

“He played for outstanding coaches. Our game plan must be to cause damage on Tuesday.”

On Jan. 29, Atleti will play Salzburg in Austria after hosting Leverkusen.