Diego Simeone explained why he rates Barcelona as the ‘best team in La Liga’ after his Atletico Madrid side drew with arch-rivals Real Madrid. Real Madrid held on to top spot in the Spanish top-flight as Kylian Mbappe’s second-half goal cancelled out Julian Alvarez’s first-half penalty at the Bernabeu.

Atlético Madrid coach Diego Simeone spoke to the media in the aftermath of a 1-1 draw with Real Madrid at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, addressing a range of topics from refereeing decisions to his substitutions. One question was about the title race, with a journalist posing asking it was like to be a third team alongside La Liga’s top two.

An insight into how Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has fared in league meetings with Atlético has on Saturday been forthcoming online.And it will no doubt make for concerning reading for