Emotional Diego Simeone is not thinking about Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp named as inspiration

Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid could face Liverpool once more in the Champions League while the manager of giant killers Bodo/Glimt says he has been inspired by Jurgen Klopp's great Reds sides

So Liverpool now know the two teams they could face in Friday's Champions League round of 16 draw. Lying in waiting for the Reds are either Galatasaray or Atletico Madrid.

Galatasaray progressed last night (Wednesday) despite losing 3-2 at Juventus, who having lost the first leg in Turkey 5-2, staged a brave fightback in the face of losing former Bournemouth and Newcastle United defender Lloyd Kelly to a red card shortly after the start of the second half.

The Italians opened up a three-goal lead to level the tie but extra-time strikes from Victor Osimhen, who scored the winner when the Turkish outfit beat Liverpool 1-0 in the league phase in Istanbul in September, and Baris Alper Yilmaz ensured they went down to a 7-5 aggregate defeat.

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The previous evening Atletico ran out 4-1 winners over Club Brugge at the Wanda Metropolitano to seal a 7-4 aggregate success after the first leg in Belgium finished 3-3.

Should Atleti be paired with Liverpool in the round of 16, it would be the sixth and seventh time they and their long-serving manager Diego Simeone have faced the defending Premier League champions in European football's premier club competition since 2020.

Simeone's side knocked the Reds out of the Champions League in March 2020, winning 3-2 at Anfield to secure a 4-2 aggregate victory, in what was the final major football match in England before the sport was shut down due to the spread of coronavirus.

The clubs have met three times in the group stages since then, with Liverpool winning on each occasion, including back in September when an injury-time Virgil van Dijk header earned a 3-2 home victory. That goal led the combustible Simeone to lose his head and he was sent off after clashing with home supporters.

But the Argentine cut an emotional figure after the win over Brugge, insisting he was not thinking of the Reds, or the other Premier League team they could face in the last 16, Tottenham Hotspur.

Simeone said: “There's a huge amount of work behind these results, which are starting to be more positive than negative. Many players have come in over the last two seasons, and reinventing ourselves isn't easy.

“When you see the substitutes come on... I still get emotional. When I see that commitment, I feel a strong connection. I'm very proud of the guys. We came up against a team that plays well, that eliminated Atlanta last year... We were better in the second half.

"Without a doubt, it's extremely important for the club, both financially and globally, but we want more. Hopefully, we have the ability, the talent, and the energy to go further.

"We're not thinking about Liverpool or Tottenham. Getting back to the round of 16 is very important. Let's see if we can improve and advance. The lads have been playing a ton of games.”

Meanwhile, the manager of Champions League surprise package Bodo/Glimt, Kjetil Knutsen, has admitted his giant-killing side have been inspired by the great teams Jurgen Klopp built at Anfield.

The Norwegian minnows secured their place in the knockout phase play-offs by winning 3-1 at home to Manchester City and then 2-1 away to Atletico.

But they topped those results over the past week as they stunned last season's beaten finalists Inter 5-2 on aggregate to book their spot in the round of 16, where they will face Man City once more or Sporting.

And Knutsen said: "It is a path we have chosen to take, and it is about a lot of things. It is a clear identity. It requires tough training, that you work on the field functionally and at high intensity as often as you can.

“Also, the rhythm of the match will always be decisive in that regard. It is inspired by many, including Klopp and Liverpool, who we look to mirror in many ways.”

The Champions League draw takes place on Friday (February 27) at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland. Proceedings will get underway at 11am UK time.

As well as revealing the round of 16, the draw will also determine the teams that sides could potentially face if they progress to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

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