Simeone Demands Atletico Madrid Win Both Champions League Clashes for Top 8 Push

Diego Simeone insists Atletico Madrid must win their next two Champions League games if they want to stand a chance of clinching a spot in the top eight. Atletico currently sit eighth in the league-phase standings on 12 points, but they are only ahead of the chasing pack on goals scored, while a mere four points separate third from 20th in the congested table. Their final two games at this stage see them face Galatasaray away, before hosting Bodo/Glimt in their last fixture on January 28. Last season, Simeone's side finished fifth in the table, avoiding the play-offs, only to be knocked out in the round of 16 in controversial circumstances by rivals Real Madrid. But the Argentine is still keen to avoid adding two extra games to the calendar, and he knows anything less than six points would put them in danger of dropping down the table. "We have to win both games; a draw and a win are not enough," Simeone told reporters ahead of Wednesday's clash with Galatasaray. "There are very strong teams, there are many important teams in this group, who want to avoid having to play another round of qualifiers. "It's difficult for everyone because it's very tight. Others will win, and the demands will be extremely high to be among the top eight." This will be the seventh time that Galatasaray and Atletico have faced each other in Europe, with the Spanish side going unbeaten across the previous six matches (W4 D2). Atletico have won 10 of their last 13 Champions League games overall (L3), although all three defeats in this run came on their last four away trips (W1). Against Turkish sides, though, Atleti have won each of their last four away games in European competitions, with the most recent one being a 2-0 win at Galatasaray in the Champions League in September 2015. Simeone remains wary of the threat his side will face at RAMS Park, especially with Victor Osimhen back in the hosts' squad after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations. "The opponent has very good players in attack. Osimhen is back, they have two wingers in great form, [Ilkay] Gundogan in midfield, whose quality we know," Simeone said. "I see a very competitive team, and we will try to take the game to where we think we can hurt them. "Their work has been incredible, sustaining their position for so long. Thinking about that team [from the 2015 game] and today's, there are differences because the players are different.