Atletico de Madrid vs Celta Vigo - Celta Vigo perfect preparation for Champions League final

Posted Saturday, May 14, 2016 by PA

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone sees Saturday's final Primera Division game of the season against Celta Vigo as perfect preparation for his side's Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.

Simeone's side blew their chances of snatching title last week when losing 2-1 at relegated Levante, leaving leaders Barcelona and Real Madrid to fight it out on the last day.

But Atletico can gain a psychological advantage over Real ahead of the Champions League final in Milan on May 28 by pipping them to the runners-up spot.

Should arch-rivals Real lose at Deportivo La Coruna, Atletico can finish second. Barcelona travel to Granada for their last match on the same day.

"Winning would give us the possibility of having the second best points-scoring record in the history of the club," Simeone told a press conference posted the club's official website.

"What interests us most is to compete for what will come and the best way of doing this is to play against a rival such as Celta that has its needs and is playing very well.

"What could be better than having a rival of this level so we can continue working in the same way?"

Simeone, who will be in the stands again as he serves the last of his three-game touchline ban, will have a clearer picture when his side kick off at 6.30pm as both Real and Barca are scheduled to start at 4pm.

"We are clearly a match away from being able to have a broader appreciation of what has happened in the league," Simeone added.

"It is clear that we have already left a good mark in the league and if it ends in the best way, it would do us good.

"We understand that we have a final ahead of us and the best way to continue preparing is to continue competing, not leave the line of work that we set out on four-and-a-half years ago."

Celta, assured of a Europa League spot, will finish an impressive fifth and qualify directly for the group stage if they match Athletic Bilbao's result against Sevilla.

Head coach Eduardo Berizzo, who agreed a one-year contract extension in April, has steered Celta to just one defeat in nine matches.