Atleti to host Sporting CP in the Wanda Metropolitano
Our side will host the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Sporting CP.
After eliminating Lokomotiv Moscow, our side qualified for the UEFA Europa League quarter-finals. The first leg is here and we'll face Sporting CP. Kick-off is set for 9:05 p.m. CET in the Wanda Metropolitano.
This will be the fourth time we face Sporting CP and previous results are in our favour (one win and two draws). Our most recent matches against the Portuguese team were in the 2009/10 Europa League and both matches ended in a draw.
In the present season, Sporting are third in the Portuguese league table. In the Europa League, they eliminated Astana and Viktoria Plzen to qualify for the quarter-finals. Previously, they finished third in their Champions League group to qualify for the knockout round of the Europa League.
Meanwhile, we're unbeaten in the Europa League and have yet to concede a goal in the Wanda Metropolitano. It'll be a tough match and Diego Pablo Simeone knows this.
"I’ve seen Sporting’s matches in the Champions League, Portuguese league and the Europa League. They always try to minimize the rival and make the game equal [for both teams]," he said. "They pressure well and play with a high line. They’re going to try to take advantage of their offensive power and presence in the box."
