AFP, Barcelona :
Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin believes his side will relish being labelled as underdogs ahead of their Champions League quarter-final, first leg away to Barcelona on Tuesday.
Diego Simeone’s men lead Barca by a point in La Liga with just seven games remaining and progressed to the last eight of Europe’s top club competition for the first time in 17 years with ease after hammering AC Milan 5-1 in the last 16.
And Godin insisted they have no fear of facing Barca having already drawn with the Catalans on three occasions so far this season.
“We don’t feel inferior to anyone, we never feel like that,” he told the Atletico website.
“We know what are our strong points and where we have to go to win the game. If you look at the tie FC Barcelona is the clear favourite, but we know what our strengths are and how we can use those strengths to inflict a lot of damage.”
Atletico had a fright on the eve of the game as top scorer Diego Costa pulled out of his side’s final training session with a knee problem.
However, the indications are that the Spanish international will be fit to play and Godin knows just how important the man who has scored 33 times this season is to Atletico’s chances.
“He is our soul, he is a player that gives us everything,” said the Uruguayan.
“Sometimes things don’t go your way and he is the player capable of opening the door with his power, technique and all the qualities that he has.”
