Atletico Madrid travel to relegation threatened Deportivo La Coruna Saturday evening in need of a win, with Valencia bearing down on them, the pressure is really on in the race for third in La Liga.

Simeone’s men come into the game on the back of Tuesday’s goalless draw with capital rivals Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, and the physiological effects may tell upon his players after Deportivo have had two days extra of rest, after their 2-2 draw - Real Sociedad at the Anoeta. With Atleti still in contention for a place in the Champions League semi-finals, you wonder whether El Cholo will have one eye on Tuesday’s trip to the Bernabeu, which could be punished by the momentous and impressive Valencia.

Atleti will have to remain focused on domestic matters this weekend, looking to cement their grip on an automatic spot in next season's Champions League. Valencia kept the pressure on Atleti, mathematically twithin two points of Atletico with a 3-0 victory over Levante on Monday.

The inform Antoine Griezmann praised Simeone’s ability to get the best out of his squad and highlighted the importance of the togetherness in the squad talking to press ahead of the trip to Deportivo at the weekend. (Interview and quotes from Champions Matchday magazine):

"He's a leader. His team talks are impressive. He spurs you on and makes you want to give your all. That's his strength," Griezmann told Champions Matchday magazine."

"He tries to motivate you for him and for the team. I learn from him every day."

"It's about there not being just one or 14 players; it's an entire squad who live together and give everything in training."

The game will be the second game in charge for Depor manager Victor Sanchez, and he will take great positivity from last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Sociedad, that took them up to 16th place on goal difference, but La Coruna will be seeking any points they can pick up in their remaining fixtures to steer clear of the drop.

Lucas Perez told press this week that he is confident the club will beat the drop and will not return back to the Segunda:

"The only one that will not be among the bottom three is Deportivo. I said from day one, we will not go down," he told reporters this week.

"The intensity and the team's attitude has always been there. Right now you cannot draw many conclusions from what has been against Real Sociedad, the coach had only two days.

"Give him time. We are very happy with him, you have to be helped to integrate as soon as possible, then we can learn what he wants on the pitch."