Luis Enrique: Barcelona are not favourites against ‘strong’ Atletico Madrid

Andy West 07:21 28/01/2015
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  • Mutual respect: Luis Enrique believes Barcelona are not favourites against Diego Simeone's disciplined Atletico Madrid.

    Luis Enrique is looking for protection from referee Jesus Gil Manzano as Barcelona defend a one-goal advantage in tonight’s Copa del Rey quarter final second leg at Atletico Madrid.

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    Lionel Messi’s rebound from his saved penalty was enough to give Barca their slender lead from last Wednesday’s meeting at the Nou Camp, which became an increasingly antagonistic encounter and resulted in six yellow cards.

    Atletico have become famed for their rugged approach under competitive coach Diego Simeone, with some opponents – including near neighbours Real after their loss at the Vicente Calderon in the previous round – complaining that the reigning La Liga champions sometimes cross the line from acceptable aggressive into excessive violence.

    In that context, Gil Manzano will be a highly scrutinised figure tonight, and Enrique said: “I just hope the game respects the codes of sportsmanship and fair play, and I’m sure it will.”

    Although he is generally among the country’s more lenient officials and has not produced a red card in any of the 16 games he has overseen this season, Gil Manzano did book nine players – including six from Atletico – when he last refereed Simeone’s men in a 1-0 win over Almeria in September.

    Lionel Messi's goal at the Camp Nou give Barcelona a slender lead in the Copa del Rey.

    Enrique is also warning his players to pay no attention to suggestions that they are favourites to progress. In addition to Messi’s strike, the fact that Barca kept a clean sheet gives them a distinct advantage, knowing that one goal would leave the hosts needing three to progress due to the away goals rule.

    “Believing that we are favourites is the first step towards losing,” added Enrique. “We know how difficult the game will be and we’re not going to speculate about the result. “It would be a grave mistake to talk about favourites.”

    The tie sends Barca back to the same venue where they suffered another recent quarter-final second-leg exit, losing last season’s Champions League tie against Atletico due to an early goal from Koke.

    Although he was managing Celta Vigo at the time, Enrique said: “I remember the Champions League games.

    “They will be much stronger in their own stadium, with their own fans behind them.

    “Early pressure is one of their characteristics and we expect the game to get off to an intense start.”

    In particular, Enrique is wary of Atletico’s famous threat from set-pieces, which yielded yet another goal at the weekend as Rayo Vallecano forward Manucho diverted a corner by Antoine Griezmann into his own net.

    However, Barca have greatly improved their ability to defend set-pieces under Enrique, with Pepe’s goal for Real Madrid in October’s Clasico the last occasion they conceded from such a route.

    Enrique said: “We need to try to control that aspect of the game even though it’s not always easy to stop your opponent from getting set-pieces.”

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