Barcelona manager Luis Enrique believes that Atletico Madrid will provide a tough challenge when the two teams play their Spanish Cup tie tomorrow.
The Catalan giants secured a 1-0 win at the Camp Nou courtesy of a late Lionel Messi goal in the first leg of their Spanish Cup quarter-final tie last week.
The reigning Spanish champions will start the match confident of their prospects having dispatched their fierce rivals Real Madrid 4-2 over two legs in their round of 16 clash.
Barcelona have defeated Atletico Madrid twice already this season; a 3-1 league defeat was followed by their cup triumph. However, Enrique believes they will not be starting the match as favourites and harbouring such thoughts would be a recipe for disaster.
“To think you are favourites is the first step of the way towards losing", he said at a pre-match press conference.
"We know how difficult the game will be and we're not going to speculate about the result.
"It would be a grave mistake to talk about favourites."
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Enrique recalled the difficulties that the Catalans faced in their quarter-final tie against eventual finalists Atletico Madrid in the Champions League last season when Diego Simeone’s men won 1-0 at the Vicente Calderon. And Barcelona manager expects another difficult away tie.
“I remember Atletico's Champions League games against Barca. In their own stadium, with the support from their crowd, I believe we'll be facing a very in-form Atletico.”
Barcelona, who have won their last six matches in all competitions on the trot having scored 23 goals and conceded just one in the process, will look to continue their scintillating form tomorrow.
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