Atletico de Madrid vs Malmo FF preview - Hareide relishing Simeone clash

Posted Tuesday, October 21, 2014 by PA

Malmo boss Age Hareide believes he will be pitting his wits against the best coach in the world when his side take on Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Simeone has enjoyed a phenomenal run of success since taking over at Atletico in 2011, including leading the Rojiblancos to their first Primera Division title since 1996 last season as well as reaching their maiden Champions League final.

Atletico have also won the Europa League, Copa del Rey, Spanish Supercopa and UEFA Super Cup under Simeone, and Hareide feels the Argentinian is currently at the top of his profession having done an "impeccable" job at the Spanish side.

The 61-year-old said in Spanish newspaper AS: "At this moment he is the best coach in the world.

"He's done a great job, he won the league last season and has a very well-organised side. It's a perfectly-oiled machine. His work at Atletico is impeccable.

"He's been able to transform the team, now they are a winning side who fight hard on the pitch."

Things could hardly be closer in Group A heading into the third round of matches, with all four teams having picked up three points so far.

Both Malmo and Atletico lost their opening matches, going down away to Juventus and Olympiacos respectively, before bouncing back with victories on matchday two.

Atletico beat Juve 1-0 thanks to a 75th-minute Arda Turan winner while Malmo defeated Olympiacos 2-0 through Markus Rosenberg's brace.

That was Malmo's first group-stage win in a UEFA competition and now the Swedish side, who recently retained their Allsvenskan title, will be hoping for more success at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday - although Hareide is realistic about his side's chances.

"It will be a very diffcult game. We are up against one of the two strongest teams in the group and for us that's a big motivation," said Hareide, whose side were beaten 2-1 at home by Elfsborg on Saturday.

"We saw the game against Juventus and saw a team very difficult to beat, who are tough at home and dangerous up front.

"Together with Juventus, they are the two big favourites to get through to the next phase, although you never know...

"We want to try and get third place. Our goal is continue in a European competition. For that, to begin with, we must fight against Olympiacos."

Atletico go into the game having won four of their last five competitive matches, bouncing back from a 3-1 loss to Valencia before the international break with a 2-0 home win over Espanyol on Sunday.

Last season's finalists will be expected to pick up another victory against Malmo, but Atletico midfielder Arda Turan insists his side are taking nothing for granted.

The Turkey international told FIFA.com: "We'll need to take care with Malmo - we have a lot of respect for them.

"At home they play very well and remember they went in 0-0 at half-time away to Juve. This is the Champions League and if we're careless or adopt an attitude of 'we're a big team, we'll win all our games', then we'll be eliminated pretty quickly."