Atletico de Madrid vs Levante preview - Atleti can close on a high

Atletico Madrid have a chance to finish 2013 top of the Primera Division, as long as they can beat Levante on Saturday at the Vicente Calderon.

Diego Simeone's side are level on points and goal difference with Barcelona at the top of the table, but the Catalans have scored one more goal.

If Atleti can beat Levante by more goals than Barcelona beat Getafe on Sunday, they will lead the league table for the first time this season.

Los Rojiblancos have won every single competitive game at home this season, and go into the match after a hard-fought but resounding win over Valencia last Sunday.

They face a Levante side that are 11th in the table but on the rise again.

The Valencia side lost every game they played in November but are back to winning ways, defeating Elche last week and thrashing Recreativo Huelva 4-0 to qualify for the last 16 of the Copa del Rey.

And midfielder Jordi Xumetra insists the team are now looking forward to the game at the Calderon, hopeful they can cause a shock.

"We had a bad month but we beat Elche in search of a turning point and kept the run going in the cup by scoring four goals and turning the tie around, and we are gaining in confidence ahead of Saturday," Xumetra told a press conference.

"It will be a very difficult game for us, especially because it's at their stadium, but Levante are capable of anything."

The midfielder also had special praise for the work Simeone has done with Atletico.

He said: "Their coach demands a lot of them, they all fight for the same objective, they play together as a unit, it's very hard to score against them, and as soon as they get a sniff of goal, they score."

Xumetra will miss the game due to suspension, while Hector Rodas and striker Baba Diawara also miss out through injury, while Simeone has no fresh injury concerns.

The coach summed up the effect he has had on his team since taking the reins at the club just under two years ago in an interview with AS.

He explained: "When I arrived I said I wanted to recover the club's essence. Atletico always used to be an aggressive, intense, fast, competitive team that was dangerous on the counter-attack, I think we have done that.

"That excites me and gives me the energy to keep on improving. And I'm seeing the team respond to everything I ask of them."