For the 28th time, Carlo Ancelotti will face Diego Simeone's Atlético Madrid with his team on Saturday. Apart from two encounters with Bayern Munich, the Italian coach has always been in charge of Real Madrid in these matchups. The red-and-white fighting machine holds few secrets for him.

Carlo Ancelotti is preparing for yet another battle against Diego Simeone’s Atlético Madrid, a rivalry that has defined some of the most intense encounters in Spanish and European football over the past decade.

The history between these two clubs in the Champions League is rich, with Real Madrid often having the upper hand in key moments, including the dramatic final in 2014 and the penalty shootout triumph in 2016. However, Atlético Madrid remains a fierce opponent, particularly under Simeone, whose tactical discipline and relentless fighting spirit have made his team one of the toughest to break down.

On Wednesday night, Real Madrid will travel to the Metropolitano for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, carrying a narrow 2-1 lead from the first leg. The match at the Santiago Bernabéu saw Real Madrid dominate possession at times but struggle to put Atlético away convincingly. Atlético, as they so often do, remained dangerous on the counter and nearly grabbed an equalizer late in the game. Now, with home advantage and a hostile atmosphere in their favor, Simeone’s men will be determined to turn the tie around.

Ancelotti, a veteran of these high-stakes encounters, knows exactly what to expect. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, the Italian manager was, as always, full of praise for the opposition. “Their ideas are similar to ours. We’ve played against each other many times, and it has always been an intense, exciting match. I expect nothing different this time,” he said. Ancelotti’s respect for Atlético is well-founded, as his teams have been tested time and again by Simeone’s defensive structure, aggressive pressing, and physicality in midfield.

With such tight margins between the two sides, there is a real possibility that the match could be decided by penalties, a scenario that neither team would particularly welcome. Ancelotti, however, is hopeful that it doesn’t come to that. “Well, we want to reach the quarter-finals, and training for penalties is difficult. The atmosphere, the mental state these are things that are hard to replicate. Right now, we’re not thinking about that. We are focused on preparing for the match in the best possible way.”

Despite his reluctance to dwell on the prospect of a penalty shootout, Ancelotti is far too experienced not to have a plan in place. He understands exactly what is required in such situations and has seen firsthand how unpredictable they can be. “We make a list based on what we see in training, but at that moment, we don’t consider the mental aspect. However, during a match, that does become important. I’ve won finals with defenders stepping up to score. Serginho and Alessandro Nesta both of them were capable of taking penalties.”

Real Madrid’s history in European competitions has often been defined by their ability to handle pressure, and Ancelotti will rely on that experience to navigate this challenge. The likes of Luka Modrić, Toni Kroos, and Dani Carvajal have been in countless high-pressure situations, and their leadership will be crucial if the game becomes a battle of endurance and mentality.

From Atlético’s perspective, they know that overturning a one-goal deficit against Real Madrid will require a near-perfect performance. Simeone has been in this situation before, and his ability to motivate his squad for big European nights is well known. Atlético will likely look to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities in Real’s setup, particularly with their physical presence in set pieces and their ability to launch quick, direct attacks through players like Antoine Griezmann and Álvaro Morata.

Simeone has already stated that his team must play with intelligence and intensity, recognizing that Real Madrid’s ability to control possession and dictate tempo can suffocate opponents. “We have to be ready for a battle. Real Madrid knows how to handle these moments, but we have to show that we are prepared to fight until the last second,” the Argentine coach said in his press conference.

The atmosphere at the Metropolitano will be electric, with Atlético’s supporters ready to create an intimidating environment for their city rivals. Madrid derbies are always heated affairs, but with Champions League survival at stake, the intensity will be even higher. Atlético fans will remember past heartbreaks against Real Madrid in this competition and will see this as a chance for redemption.

Real Madrid, on the other hand, will look to extend their dominance over Atlético in Europe and take another step toward what they hope will be another deep run in the Champions League. The club has built its legacy on success in this competition, and Ancelotti understands that expectations are always sky-high when it comes to the Champions League.

With a ticket to the quarter-finals on the line, everything is set for another thrilling European night in Madrid.