Pablo Ibanez knows he faces an uphill struggle to break into the Atletico Madrid first team.

The Spain defender saw action in the midweek victory over Getafe, but concedes: "It's going to be difficult to enter the team this year, because there is a lot of competition and the squad is quite deep.

"But this is something that should benefit the team, we play for three titles and I know that I will have my chances, I only have to work and be prepared to try to take every opportunity I get."