Atletico Madrid vs Austria Vienna preview - Torres ready for Vienna 'final'

Posted Tuesday, November 05, 2013 by PA

Juanfran Torres has revealed Atletico Madrid are training as if they were preparing for a final ahead of Wednesday's Champions League game against Austria Vienna - but he thinks the Primera Division is the better competition.

Atletico have made the perfect start to their European campaign by taking three wins from three in Group G - two away victories against Porto and Vienna and a 3-1 home defeat of Zenit St Petersburg.

Victory over Vienna at the Vicente Calderon would seal qualification for the knockout stages for the first time since the 2008-09 season and would also see Atletico set a club record for consecutive wins in Europe's premier competition.

However, while right-back Juanfran is ready for the clash, he says La Liga is the competition he holds in the highest esteem.

"We trust our coach (Diego Simeone), because he knows how to make the most of each player," he told Marca.

"I believe we have a great team. We train differently depending on opponent, but always like a final.

"It is clear that Atletico have always been good at knockout competitions, but I am among those who think that the Spanish league is still the best, the strongest and most competitive, and perhaps it is more difficult to win than the Champions League."

Juanfran, 28, joined Atletico from Osasuna in 2011 and says he wants to finish his career at the club whose team currently trail La Liga leaders Barcelona by just one point.

"Atletico are a great side and I would like to finish my career here, because I hope to win titles every year," he added.

"The club made an effort with me and I am grateful."

Vienna, meanwhile, approach the game bottom of the group with only one point, which came from the goalless draw against Zenit in St Petersburg at the start of October.

They will, however, have been boosted by the 3-0 away win over Wiener Neustadt in the Austrian Bundesliga which ended their four-game winless run on Sunday.