Back
5.11.2019Champions League

Atletico lack 'clinical finishing' too

Diego Simeone has predicted his team will face a tough battle against Bayer 04: "I'm expecting a Leverkusen team who will produce their best performance." The coach of the top Spanish club Atletico Madrid fielded questions from German and Spanish members of the media at the pre-match press conference ahead of tomorrow's Champions League clash at the BayArena (6 November, kick-off: 21.00 CET).
20191105_PK_Atletico_Madrid_67774.jpg

The 49-year-old Argentinian highlighted the strengths of the Werkself: "They are a team with very good players, they play very attacking and fast football." However, those qualities were not decisive in the first meeting: Alvaro Morata came off the bench to score the only goal of the game on 78 minutes for the Spanish side with a header.

The 27-year-old could well be in the starting line-up with his four goals in the last four games as could central defender Mario Hermoso, who said at the press conference: "We want to play and we’ll treat the match as if it's a final." And moving the pre-match training session from the BayArena to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, due to it being the fourth home match in twelve days, was not a negative factor for the Madrid side. "We've heard we won't be able to train in the stadium tonight. But that doesn't bother us. Our mentality is good," said the 24-year-old summer signing Hermoso, who played for Espanyol last season.

Simeone: Atletico's weak point

Simeone looked at an aspect of the game that has occupied the Werkself for several matches: conversion of chances. "I can explain one situation after another to you as reasons why we haven't scored. But what we are really missing is clinical finishing," declared the Argentinian.

 

Related News

Simeon Rapsch mit Kim Falkenberg (r.) und Bernd Korzynietz
Bayer 04 - 09.07.2026

Bayer 04 agree long-term deal with keeper Simeon Rapsch

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with U19 goalkeeper Simeon Rapsch. The Germany youth international goalkeeper has signed a long-term contract with the Werkself running to 30 June 2029. The 18-year-old joined Leverkusen from FC Viktoria Köln in the summer of 2024.

Show more
Ken Izekor in Diensten von Bayer 04
Bayer 04 - 09.07.2026

Izekor leaves Bayer 04 to join Alemannia Aachen

Ken Izekor is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join third-tier side Alemannia Aachen with immediate effect. The 19-year-old centre-forward joined the club from Alemannia in 2018, and Izekor is now returning to his hometown.

Show more
Montrell Culbreath gegen RB Leipzig
Bayer 04 - 08.07.2026

Golden Boy Top 100 featuring Culbreath and Co.: Bayer 04 with largest contingent in the Bundesliga

The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.

Show more
crop_imago1079275176.jpg
Bayer 04 - 08.07.2026

World Cup blog: Palacios, Quansah and Grimaldo through to quarter-finals – Tillman scores from free-kick again

The FIFA World Cup 2026 in the USA, Canada and Mexico is underway. A total of eight Leverkusen players are taking part in the 23rd World Cup, with 48 teams in the tournament for the first time. Bayer04.de brings you all the latest from Werkself players at the World Cup.

Show more