Diego Simeone wants Atletico Madrid to keep pushing for goals against Tottenham despite carrying a 5-2 lead into the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie. Atletico head to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with a strong advantage, but Simeone made clear his side will not approach the match as if the job is finished.
Atletico built that three-goal cushion at the Metropolitano last week, punishing a series of mistakes from Tottenham’s defence and goalkeeper. The result gave the LaLiga side control of the tie and also marked the first time Atletico had scored five goals in a Champions League knockout match.
Simeone’s message before the return leg was direct. He said Atletico always prepare for knockout ties over the full 180 minutes and insisted the best outcome would be to score again in London, putting Tottenham in an even more difficult position.
That approach reflects Atletico’s output in Europe this season. Simeone’s team has scored 29 goals in 11 Champions League matches, more than in any previous campaign in the competition and more than any other side this term. Atletico also scored seven times in their play-off tie against Club Brugge and put five past Eintracht Frankfurt earlier in the campaign.
The attacking numbers stand out because Atletico have long been defined by their defensive structure under Simeone. The head coach, however, does not see the goal total as proof of a philosophical shift. He said a team should be judged by how balanced it is rather than by goals alone, with confidence playing a major role in how complete a side can become.
Tottenham still have a route back into the tie, even if it is narrow after the first leg in Madrid. Scoring early at home would change the shape of the contest and raise the pressure on Atletico, particularly against an opponent playing in England where Atletico’s recent record has been mixed.
After losing just one of their first six away Champions League matches against English clubs, Atletico have since lost five of their last six visits to England. That recent trend gives Tottenham at least some encouragement ahead of the second leg, even though Atletico’s three away wins against Premier League opponents in the competition have all come in knockout football.
Those victories came against Chelsea in 2013-14, Liverpool in 2019-20 and Manchester United in 2021-22. Atletico therefore arrive in north London with both a commanding lead and evidence that Simeone’s side can manage these occasions away from home when the stakes are highest.