Atletico Madrid defender Axel Witsel has warned of the intense threat posed by Borussia Dortmund ahead of their upcoming Champions League quarter-finals clash. Although ranked fifth in the Bundesliga, Dortmund is seen as the weakest team left in the competition. However, coach Diego Simeone believes they are a strong and intense team with great performances both in defense and attack.
Simeone praised Dortmund’s prowess on the counterattack, highlighting their unbeaten away record in four months. The first leg of the quarter-finals will be held at Atletico’s Metropolitano stadium on Wednesday as they seek to advance to the quarter-finals for the first time since 2017.
Witsel, who joined Atletico from Dortmund last year after a successful four-year stint with his former club, acknowledged that his old team poses a significant threat. He praised their speed in pressing and their forward line featuring players like Karim Adeyemi and Jadon Sancho. Witsel emphasized the need to focus on the upcoming match and not get distracted by future possibilities.
Atletico’s Simeone is on the brink of his 50th victory as a coach in the Champions League but has never won it with Atletico before. This season, it remains Atletico’s best chance for silverware as they currently sit fourth in La Liga.
Despite being considered weaker than their opponents, Dortmund has proven themselves to be formidable opponents throughout their history, winning four DFB-Pokal titles and reaching several Champions League semi-finals.
In contrast, Atletico Madrid has struggled to keep up with its Spanish rivals such as Barcelona and Real Madrid in recent years but is determined to prove its worth against its German adversaries.
The upcoming match promises to be an exciting encounter between two teams with different playing styles but equally strong squads. Both sides will need to bring all of their skills and tactics if they want to emerge victorious from this highly anticipated game.
Overall, both teams must approach this match with caution while taking advantage of every opportunity that comes their way if they want to come out on top.
