Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone was tightlipped on Barcelona's problems ahead of Tuesday night's meeting.

Barcelona have been in the headlines for completed transfers and poor performances this week, yet will be hoping to turn things around and put pressure back on Real Madrid in the title race with a victory over Atleti.

"I won't talk about other dressing rooms, only ours, we always need to protect it," Simeone explained in his pre-match press conference.

"I have to manage the emotions of each footballer.

"The important thing is that they play well and we take charge of the emotional part, which is what I consider to be the most important."