Atletico Madrid’s head coach, Diego Simeone, believes the revamped Champions League format is no easy task for any team. As his side prepares to face Sparta Prague in the Czech capital tonight, Simeone shared his thoughts on the challenges posed by the competition’s new structure.

This season, the Champions League has expanded to 36 teams, moving away from the traditional group stages to a league-style format. In this system, every team plays against eight different opponents, with three home and three away matches. The top eight teams automatically progress to the knockout rounds, while the next 16 enter a two-legged playoff to secure their spots in the last 16.

From Simeone’s perspective, the change makes the competition even more intense. “From what the results are showing us, and what happens in the games, I understand that this format invites everyone to pay even more attention,” Simeone explained in a recent press conference. “Once we move forward and this first experience is over, we will have a clearer idea of ​​what we really think (of it).”

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Atletico Madrid, currently sitting 23rd in the standings, have faced their own challenges with two wins and two losses so far. They are just inside the playoff spots but know that every match counts in this new setup. “They always put pressure on you to win. That happened before too, but now it is a league where everyone plays against everyone and it is not easy for anyone,” Simeone added.

Their upcoming opponents, Sparta Prague, have struggled in the Champions League this season, winning just one of their four matches. Despite this, Simeone expects a tough battle, particularly in Prague. “They’re tough opponents … and at home they have a fast pace,” Simeone said, acknowledging the difficulty of playing in front of a passionate home crowd. “You have to adapt to the pace of that start. We’re away from home and the opponent will push very hard.”