Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone is looking forward to his side locking horns with Barcelona later on Sunday night and believes they are capable of causing an upset, provided they play to their best.

Atletico are totally unrecognisable to the team that began the season so poorly under Gregorio Manzano, with Simeone overseeing seven league games unbeaten (three wins and four draws) since his appointment last December.

Los Rojiblancos head into the clash at the Vicente Calderon in eighth place in the table, just three points behind Levante in fourth position, and on a high after booking a last 16 spot in the Europa League at the expense of Lazio in midweek.

Simeone, famous for his role in David Beckham’s sending off at the 1998 World Cup, has now set his sights on upsetting Barcelona, who are 10 points adrift of Real Madrid at the top of the Primera Division.

“If my team plays at 110 per cent, we will be close to victory,” the former midfielder told Marca. “Let’s play like we have been doing, trying to be a team. “Beyond trying to shut down space for a team with great potential, we will be looking at our options in how to attack. The most important thing is to think of how to attack.

“We have an exciting game and hopefully we will give it our best. There is great enthusiasm in all the players and we are hooked on this. It’s a nice challenge. We will try, with humility, to play the game that suits us.”