UEFA Champions League 2025-2026: Atletico needs ‘personality’ to prevent Barcelona comeback, says Koke

Atletico Madrid midfielder Koke said on Monday his team must play with «personality» to prevent Barcelona’s Champions League quarter-final comeback.

The Rojiblancos secured a 2-0 win in the first leg at Camp Nou last week and host the Spanish champions on Tuesday, aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2017.

Five-time winners Barcelona reached the last four last season and arrive at the Metropolitano Stadium determined to fight their way back to the draw and pile the pressure on the hosts.

“It is extremely important to beat the press they normally set up,” Koke told reporters.

“They are a team that puts the pressure on very high, that pushes the line almost to the halfway line, that presses you, that suffocates you.

«That’s where our personality comes in, when it’s time to play, to want to have the ball, to make ourselves available, to back up.»

The match is the third between the two sides in the last two weeks and the sixth they have played this season, with Atletico eliminating Barca in the Copa del Rey semi-final.

“We have faced each other often this year,” the midfielder continued.

“We know each other perfectly, and it will be very important to take the ball from them, attack the spaces well and have the personality to want the ball and not lose it.”

Koke scored against Barcelona in the 2014 quarter-final as Atletico – who have never won the competition – reached the final as in 2016, losing both times to rivals Real Madrid.

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“I’ve seen that goal a few times,” Koke admitted.

«It’s true that when these kinds of matches start, you try to motivate yourself and you try to visualize a lot of positive things that have happened, like in 2014, like in 2016, and like in the first leg a week ago.»

Atletico coach Diego Simeone kept his cards close to his chest ahead of the second leg and refused to say whether goalkeeper Jan Oblak was fit to start or to elaborate much.

“We are fully aware of the strong opponent we will have in front of us,” said the coach. “But we are also clear about our goal, which is to persevere.”

Published on April 13, 2026