Diego Simeone Record Chase: Atletico Visit Levante With History in Reach
The Diego Simeone record chase takes centre stage as Atletico Madrid travel to Levante on Saturday in LaLiga Matchday 11. A win would be a major milestone for Simeone, who has won 343 of 564 LaLiga matches so far, with 123 draws and 98 defeats, and could equal Luis Aragones on 344 wins as the manager with the most victories in the history of the competition.
Aragones reached 344 wins in 756 matches, which makes the pace of Simeone remarkable. The Atletico coach has reached 343 wins in 192 fewer matches, and the record is now one win away. The focus from Simeone, however, is firmly on the next match, and the message from the Atletico camp is that history can wait until after the final whistle.
Atletico sit second in LaLiga on 25 points after 10 matches, with eight wins, one draw and one defeat. The team play before Barcelona on Saturday, so a win over Levante would move Atletico at least temporarily to the summit of the table. The title race context adds weight to the match, but Simeone has made clear that the wider table is not the focus in the dressing room.
Diego Simeone Record: Focus on the Next Match Only
Diego Simeone said he is only focused on Atletico Madrid, not on the teams around his side in the table, ahead of travelling to Levante. The Argentinian coach insisted that he is looking ahead one match at a time, and that the record, the table and the title race will take care of themselves if the team performs in each match.
Simeone said: “I do not want to focus on other teams. We will go through good, bad and average spells because that is life.” The quote captures the approach that has defined the long tenure in Madrid, with attention on recovery, effort and the next opponent rather than on the noise around the club.
The coach added: “Different things happen in a title race; when you manage to recover quickly from difficult moments, that is when you end up competing to win.” The words matter because Atletico have recovered from difficult moments this season and turned a mixed start into a run of six straight league wins.
Simeone was also wary about claims that the team have reached top form. The coach said: “Reaching 100% is very complex, a very high standard.” Simeone added: “To get there, we still have a way to go; we need to see how we manage our efforts, the changes, and get the most out of the players.”
The final message before the trip was a warning about Levante. Simeone said: “We need to play a strong match against an opponent that performs very well at home, with excellent teamwork, and we have to take the game to where we can hurt them.” The respect for the home side is genuine, and the recent history at the Ciutat de Valencia explains why.
Form, Goals and the Alvarez Run
Atletico arrive in Valencia in excellent domestic form. The team have won each of the last six league matches and are unbeaten across eight matches in all competitions, with seven wins and one draw. The tally of 25 points matches the best LaLiga start for the club at this stage in the last 13 seasons, and the balance of the team has improved through the run.
The winning streak includes victories over Real Sociedad, Osasuna, Real Madrid, Alaves, Espanyol and Deportivo. Four of those victories came with a clean sheet, including the two most recent wins against Espanyol and Deportivo. Atletico have kept five clean sheets in 10 league matches, with 20 goals scored and only eight conceded.
The squad has become much less dependent on one goalscorer. Alex Baena leads Atletico in LaLiga with five goals, while Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonathan David have also contributed regularly. Julian Alvarez has had a quieter start statistically, but the Argentine forward scored the decisive goal in the latest 1-0 league victory over Deportivo and remains one of the most dangerous options in the final third.
Alvarez has scored in the last two matches for Atletico in all competitions, with two goals in total. The forward could score in three consecutive matches for the club for the first time since September 2025, when Alvarez scored in three matches with six goals. The run would add another layer to a match already rich in storylines.
Levante have scored 16 goals in 10 league matches but have already conceded 19, and the pattern of the home matches is striking. The four league matches at the Ciutat de Valencia have produced a 5-2 win over Real Betis, a 4-2 defeat to Barcelona, a 3-3 draw against Sevilla and a 3-1 victory over Athletic Club. Levante have scored 13 times at home, but the team have yet to keep a home clean sheet in LaLiga.
Roger Brugue has been the biggest individual threat for Levante, with five league goals, while Ivan Romero has added three. Nacho Perez scored a first goal in the last league match against Real Sociedad, becoming the youngest player to score for Levante in the competition in the 21st century at 18 years and 54 days old. The young defender will be a player to watch on Saturday.
Team News and Probable Lineups
Atletico have injury concerns in midfield and defence. Koke has been recovering from a thigh problem, Cristian Romero suffered a muscular strain against Espanyol, and Johnny Cardoso was diagnosed with a low-grade thigh injury after the Champions League match in Stuttgart. None of the three featured in the squad against Deportivo, and the availability of each player will shape the midfield selection.
Levante have personnel concerns in midfield and defence. Enzo Bardeli has a left hamstring injury, while Dela missed the latest league match because of physical discomfort, so the availability of both players against Atletico remains uncertain. Luis Castro signed as coach until June 2027, and the Portuguese coach has maintained an attacking identity that produces goals at home and leaves space for opponents.
The probable Levante lineup is Ryan in goal, with Nacho Perez, Mandi, Ndukwe and Manu Sanchez in defence, Brugue, Requena, Olasagasti and Thiago in midfield, and Ivan Romero and Ratkov in attack. The probable Atletico lineup is Oblak in goal, with Llorente, Marc Pubill, Hancko and Grimaldo in defence, Barrios, Hjulmand and Alex Baena in midfield, and Kang-in Lee, Julian Alvarez and Lookman in attack.
The history at the ground favours a tight match. Levante have not won any of the last six home matches against Atletico in LaLiga, with four draws and two defeats, after winning six of the first 11 home encounters against Atletico in the competition. Atletico have drawn on the last three visits to the Ciutat de Valencia, and the most recent meeting at the ground finished 0-0 in January 2026.
Under Simeone, Atletico have won just 18.2 percent of away LaLiga matches against Levante, with two wins, six draws and three defeats in 11 matches. Only against Barcelona, with a win rate of seven percent in 14 matches, do Atletico have a lower away win percentage against any opponent faced at least twice with Simeone as manager. The last four Atletico wins have all come by a one goal margin, and the team have not achieved seven consecutive victories in the competition since January 2025, when the run reached eight wins.
| Match factor | Levante | Atletico Madrid |
|---|---|---|
| League points | 10 points from 10 matches | 25 points from 10 matches |
| League record | Two wins, four draws, four defeats | Eight wins, one draw, one defeat |
| Goals scored | 16 goals | 20 goals |
| Goals conceded | 19 goals | Eight goals |
| Top scorer | Roger Brugue, five goals | Alex Baena, five goals |
| Recent league form | One win in the last seven league matches | Six straight league wins |
What the Match Means for the Record and the Race
The Opta win probability gives Levante a 19.7 percent chance of victory, a draw a 21.7 percent chance, and Atletico Madrid a 58.6 percent chance. The numbers reflect the form of the visitors and the attacking openness of the home side, but the history at the ground warns against a simple prediction. Levante have lost just one of the last 11 home matches in LaLiga, a 2-4 defeat against Barcelona in September, and only Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico have achieved more home wins than Levante since the start of March 2026.
A win for Atletico would equal the Aragones record, extend the winning run to seven league matches, and move the team to the top of the table before Barcelona play. A draw would keep the unbeaten run alive but delay the record, while a defeat for Levante would extend a difficult run and keep the home side close to the relegation zone. The match is a test of control against courage, with Simeone seeking history and Castro seeking a famous home result.
The prediction from the preview is an Atletico win, based on greater balance, defensive structure and current consistency. Levante are capable of making the match uncomfortable, with courage at home and movement in attack through Brugue, Romero and Thiago. Over 90 minutes, the superior defensive structure and deeper squad of Atletico give the visitors the edge, but the record chase will only be settled on the pitch in Valencia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many LaLiga wins does Diego Simeone have?
Diego Simeone has won 343 of 564 LaLiga matches, with 123 draws and 98 defeats. A win at Levante would equal Luis Aragones on 344 wins as the manager with the most victories in the history of the competition.
What did Simeone say about the record before the Levante match?
Simeone said he is only focused on Atletico Madrid and not on other teams. The coach said the team will go through good, bad and average spells, and that reaching 100 percent is a very high standard with work still to do.
What is the recent form of Atletico Madrid?
Atletico have won the last six league matches and are unbeaten in eight matches in all competitions, with seven wins and one draw. The team have kept five clean sheets in 10 league matches this season.
What is the recent history between Levante and Atletico at the Ciutat de Valencia?
Levante have not won any of the last six home league matches against Atletico, with four draws and two defeats. Atletico have drawn on the last three visits, and the most recent meeting at the ground finished 0-0 in January 2026.
