MADRID, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is taking nothing for granted ahead of the return leg of the Champions League quarter-final against FC Barcelona on Tuesday night.

Atletico will defend the 2-0 lead the team earned in Barcelona last week in front of its fans in the Metropolitano Stadium and has to be considered the favorite to progress to the last four in Europe.

However, after Atletico and Barcelona have had two wins each in their four previous meetings this season, Simeone believes it's pointless speculating about the result.

"Everything we comment on before the match could be just imagination: when the game starts, everything we can think about becomes irrelevant."

"What is left is faith and hope that the team will continue to perform and confidence in what we want to achieve," said the coach, who insisted he and his players were "convinced of what we have to do, what we need, and we are going to do.

"Our goal is to progress, and we will play the match to achieve that," he added.

Simeone also gave his confidence to central defenders Robin le Normand and Clement Lenglet, who will both play on Tuesday.

"Le Normand is improving game after game, and Clement is a very experienced player. He knows his strengths and weaknesses, and we are looking to maximize both of their performances," he explained.

Speaking in his pre-game press conference on Monday afternoon, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick admitted his players would need to "take the first step."

"We have to focus on putting in a good performance and not so much on the result, because when we play well, we're capable of scoring goals," he said.

Flick accepted that Tuesday would be "completely different from previous matches against them (Atletico) because the atmosphere in the stadium will be incredible."

However, he insisted he "believe in my team and what we can make happen... That's what we have to focus on."

"I know we're playing against Atletico, a team with very good players, and we'll need to defend very well but also be brave in attack, to attack, press, and take advantage of every opportunity."

"If you look at the last match, that was perhaps the big difference between them and us. Maybe tomorrow will be completely different," he ventured. ■