Atletico Madrid face Atletico Baleares in the Copa del Rey clash scheduled for Wednesday.Diego Simeone’s squad arrives as favourites to progress from the round of 32 at Estadio Balear, though the

In the lead-up to Atlético de Madrid's inaugural Copa del Rey match of the 2025/26 season against Atlético Baleares, head coach Diego Simeone shared his insights on the significance of the competition and the ongoing transfer window.

Atlético de Madrid visits the Estadio Balear today to face Atlético Baleares in the Round of 32 of the Copa del Rey. Although Diego Simeone's team is the clear favorite, the team from Palma de Mallorca is motivated after surprising everyone by eliminating Espanyol in the previous round.

Diego Simeone has stirred the Champions League conversation by boldly naming Inter as the competition’s “strongest team” even after Atletico Madrid edged them with a dramatic 93rd-minute winner at the Wanda Metropolitano.

“I love him [Raphinha],” Simeone told Movistar Plus+. “He plays everywhere. He plays as a winger, wingback, on the wing, as a second striker, he scores goals, he presses. He’s a player that, last year, I don’t know how he didn’t win the Ballon d’Or .”

Simeone admitted he wants to coach Inter “one day,” just before facing them in the Champions League, as pressure grows at Atlético.

Villarreal has been eliminated by second-division club Racing Santander in the round of 32 of the Copa del Rey.

Diego Simeone has lavished praise on "incredible" Raphinha and expressed his surprise at the Barcelona star missing out on the 2025 Ballon d'Or. The Brazilian winger was once again decisive on Tuesday night as the Blaugrana overturned an early deficit to defeat Atletico Madrid 3-1 at the Camp Nou and tighten their grip at the top of La Liga.

Atletico Madrid are into the last 16 of the Copa del Rey, though they were not exactly convincing in a 3-2 win over Atletico Baleares.