The Xavi v Simeone rivalry has moved to the dugouts

There have been 10 meetings between Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in which the Catalan played and the Argentine coached, plus three tactical battles that were all won by Xavi.

This Sunday’s FC Barcelona vs Atlético de Madrid match is one of the most highly anticipated fixtures of the LALIGA EA SPORTS season, given that both these teams are battling near the top of the table and given that both these sides have produced some memorable showdowns over the years. They enter Matchday 15 level on 31 points each, although Atleti have a game in hand still to play, and both teams must give their all to keep pace with Real Madrid and Girona FC, who are above them in the standings. 

Two different footballing philosophies

This will be an interesting match from a tactical point of view, as these are two coaches with quite different footballing philosophies, with Xavi wanting his sides to keep the ball and to play attacking football, whereas Diego Simeone is willing to forego possession if he thinks it gives his team a better chance of winning. That said, both coaches have shown their flexibility in recent months, making this duel even more fascinating.

In 2016, while playing in Qatar, Xavi was critical of the style of football employed by Simeone’s Atleti sides. “I don’t like to watch teams that sit back,” he said in an interview with the ‘Universo Valdano' show. “That’s not the style a big club should have.”

Responding to that in a press conference, Simeone explained: “I respect all opinions, as we can all be right in the world of football. I just look to make the most of the players I have available. I just want to win, not to please others.”

Although Xavi and Simeone have always been respectful when discussing one another, it’s