Atletico Madrid News
Official: Madrid derby in the UEFA Youth League 1/8th final
The schedule of the UEFA Youth League has been announced, and there is reason to celebrate for fans on both sides of Madrid. Defending champions Real Madrid will take on neighbors Atletico Madrid in the round of 16 of the competition, setting up a much-anticipated derby.
The game will be a single-leg knockout as are all games of the Youth League. Moreover, there will be no extra time in the event of the draw. A penalty shootout will directly decide the winner.
The clash of the Madrid youth teams is set for the 1st or 2nd of March, with the winner participating in the quarter-finals later in the month. The finals will be held in Lyon on April 25th.
Unlike the senior UEFA Champions League, the youth competition does not follow country protection. This means that any two teams, irrespective of the country of origin, can play against each other at any stage.
This is contrary to the UCL where teams from the same nation cannot play against each other in the initial knockout rounds.
Real Madrid’s youth side finished the group stages with 13 points, just ahead of Inter Milan on head-to-head results. While they have scored 11 goals in the competition, they have conceded six times.
Meanwhile, the youth outfit of Los Rojiblancos finished second in Group B behind Liverpool. The Spanish side secured 10 points in six games, but it was not enough to overtake the Merseyside team who scored 11 points.
Atletico Madrid News
Atletico Madrid, Chelsea contact PSG midfielder’s agent with player set to leave
Atletico Madrid and Chelsea are among the clubs that have made contact with the agent of PSG midfielder Leandro Paredes, who is set to leave this summer.
This claim comes from journalist Martin Arevalo on ESPN, who states that apart from Atletico and Chelsea, an unnamed third club have also established contact with the Argentine international’s representative.
Paredes has been on PSG’s books since January 2019, when he arrived from Zenit St. Petersburg. For a large part of his time at the French capital outfit, the midfielder had been a regular starter in the side.
However, last summer saw Paredes get shipped out on loan to Juventus. He has played 33 times for the Bianconeri this season with a return of one goal and assist apiece.
The Serie A heavyweights, who were recently hit with a 10-point deduction, have the option to purchase him permanently. But, as per the report, his relationship with manager Massimiliano Allegri is not good and a return to PSG is on the cards.
And considering that he is not in the plans back at Parc des Princes either, a permanent departure away seems set in stone for Paredes.
As such, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, and an unnamed club have shown interest in acquiring his services by making contact with the 28-year-old World Cup winner’s agent.
With Koke entering the final phase of his career and Geoffrey Kondogbia expected to leave at the end of the season, the Rojiblancos could do with reinforcements in the centre of the park.
Paredes, who has plenty of experience at the highest level and is known for his aggressive mentality, can be a good fit into Diego Simeone’s setup at the Civitas Metropolitano.
But, with Chelsea also in the picture, things could get tricky for the Colchoneros. After all, Atleti are operating on tight finances and are looking for bargain and free transfer signings in the market with the likes of Marcus Thuram, Jordi Alba, and Raphael Guerreiro emerging as targets.
