Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone ready for clash against Borussia Dortmund

The big match takes place at Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night.

Holding a slender 2-1 advantage from the first leg, Simeone faces the challenge of replacing the suspended Samuel Lino while weighing the potential inclusion of Mario Hermoso, recently recovered from an injury.

Commenting on Hermoso's fitness, Simeone expressed optimism, highlighting his versatility in defense and the depth Rodrigo Riquelme brings to the squad. "He felt good, for sure... He can play anywhere in the defense," said Simeone, hinting at Riquelme's potential role.

In terms of the team's mood, Simeone conveyed a mix of emotions, ranging from excitement to nerves, emphasizing the team's readiness for the challenge. "We are working very well... Tomorrow is going to be a good Champions League night," Simeone remarked, reflecting on their recent successes in the league.

However, Simeone remained guarded about the key to progression, stressing the importance of tactical interpretation and performance on the pitch. "The most important thing tomorrow is the whole thing... Whichever team plays better, whichever team knows how to interpret all of it, is the one that will go through," he asserted.

Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund's coach Edin Terzic faces setbacks with Sebastian Haller ruled out due to an ankle injury, but anticipates the return of Jadon Sancho. 

Reflecting on the first leg, Terzic acknowledged the challenges posed by Atletico but expressed confidence in his team's ability to disrupt their opponents with a stellar performance.

"We took three things from the first leg... the result, the lesson of how difficult it is to play against Atletico, and also the conviction that if we have a great performance we can create problems for them," said Terzic, underlining Dortmund's determination to turn the tie in their favour.