Leicester have nothing to fear from Atletico Madrid but Diego Simeone’s side should be wary of the Foxes
SunSport columnist Neil Ashton believes Leicester can emerge triumphant against Atletico Madrid just as they did against Sevilla
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THEY have nothing to fear.
Leicester, into the quarter-finals of the Champions League after their dramatic win over Sevilla, are back on Spanish soil next month.
This time they will play Atletico Madrid, beaten finalists in two of the past three seasons, after yesterday’s draw.
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It will be another spell-binding tie for the Premier League champions.
The drawn has been kind, taking them to the Vicente Calderon for the first leg just four days after Atletico play the Madrid derby.
Diego Simeone, Atletico’s impressive coach, could have some tired bodies and some tired minds out there by the time Leicester arrive on April 12.
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They still have the star quality, with Antoine Griezmann — one of the best players in the world — supporting the young Argentine striker Angel Correa, 22, up front.
Simeone, who lost last season’s final against Real on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the San Siro, will have to adapt for Leicester.
Europe has failed to cope with 4-4-2, this throwback system that has taken the Foxes through the group stages and into the last eight.
Craig Shakespeare, in the job until the end of the season, claims Premier League status takes priority before they travel for the first leg.
Leicester’s new manager said: “Facing a team who have reached the final in two of the last three seasons is a massive challenge but it’s just the kind of tie you expect in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
“Atletico Madrid are a very good team with some fantastic individuals with experience in the competition, but we’ll be ready to give everything to progress.
“It will be a brilliant occasion for our supporters and for everyone at the club but, before the players can think about these games, we have Premier League matches to come that are of huge significance to our season.
“They will be our sole focus.”
History is on Atletico’s side, with victories over Leicester in the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1961 and then the first round of the Uefa Cup in 1997.
The target for Leicester is to cause another upset, to reach a semi-final with another stunning performance at the King Power in the second leg.
It is a massive week for European football, with Juventus facing Barcelona, Real Madrid playing Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund up against Monaco.
After this week, they will be glad they avoided Leicester.