Stuttgart impress Atletico boss Simeone before Champions League clash

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone expressed admiration for Stuttgart's impressive start to their Champions League campaign ahead of their upcoming match. The Bundesliga team, currently fourth in the table, secured victories against Viking and Slovan Bratislava in their first two games. Following a 2-1 defeat to Liverpool in their opening Champions League match, Atletico staged a remarkable comeback with a 2-0 win over Manchester United, and they are currently on a six-game winning streak across all competitions.

However, Simeone cautioned that Stuttgart presents a significant challenge, citing their strong start to the Champions League, physically strong nature, and tendency to press opponents aggressively. Atletico defender David Hancko added that the team is using last season's close calls, including a penalty loss to Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey final and a narrow 2-1 loss to Arsenal in the Champions League, as motivation for improvement.