Football
Dermot Corrigan, Madrid correspondent 9y

Diego Simeone says Atletico Madrid won't take Malmo lightlty

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone says nobody at his club is counting any chickens ahead of Wednesday's Champions League Group A game at home to Malmo at the Estadio Vicente Calderon.

Last year's tournament finalists Atletico surprisingly lost their first group game this year 3-2 at Olympiakos, before bouncing back with a 1-0 home win over Juventus in their second outing.

Olympiakos were beaten 2-0 in Malmo second time out. All four teams are now on three points, leaving qualification wide open going into the third round of games.

The Colchoneros coach told his pre-game press conference that this wasn't a positive situation for his side and it showed just how tough getting through the group was going to be.

"Nobody in our squad thinks this will be an easy game," Simeone said. "It is normal that those who watch little football, and have seen little of Malmo, see it like that, but we have watched them and we respect them a lot. We do not consider them any different than ourselves.

"Malmo have a virtue which is not negotiable, they work as a team and do what their coach asks. We will be facing a dangerous team."

Atletico will be without both first-choice central midfielders with both captain Gabi and regular partner Tiago Mendes out with knocks. This means that most likely Koke will drop back alongside Mario Suarez, although emerging teenager Saul Niguez is another option. Left-back Cristian Ansaldi also misses out with a muscle problem, so Guilherme Siqueira should start.

30 million pound summer-signing Antoine Griezmann, whose only goal to date for Atletico came in the game at Olympiakos, could also come into the team. Simeone confirmed that Miguel Angel Moya would keep his place in goal, but was otherwise giving little away about his selection thoughts 24 hours out.

"We look at where we can cause pain to our opponent and the idea we have for the game," he said. "We will look for players who can take the game to the place we want. The idea is the same as ever. It does not change from game to game. We choose the players so the team wins."

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