Diego Simeone believes his Atletico Madrid side are capable of challenging reigning LaLiga champions Barcelona for the league title.

Barca are currently top of the table after winning all nine league games this season, giving them a five-point lead over second-place Atleti.

Atletico are in fine form themselves, having won each of their last five LaLiga games, with the last three being by a one-goal margin.

Atleti face Barca at home on November 8, but not before LaLiga matches with Deportivo A Coruna and Levante, as well as a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Despite the upcoming test, Simeone insisted that his full focus is on Deportivo this weekend.

When asked if Atleti can challenge Barca this season, Simeone responded: "Yes, of course, you can always compete. That's perfectly clear. It's obvious.

"That doesn't change the fact that they [Barca] have a fantastic team.

"Before that [Barcelona match], there's Levante, Bayern… There's a long way to go.

"We're focused on Saturday's match, on where we can hurt them. Deportivo has been competing very well in every game; they've won, they've drawn, they've lost, but they always compete well.

"They're a brave team. We already faced them in the last Copa del Rey, and it was a tough match. All our energy is focused on doing well in this game."

Ready for tomorrow  https://t.co/ahQmyM6uNI

— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) October 23, 2026

Deportivo made a strong start to the campaign, going unbeaten in their first five games (W2 D3), but they have since gone winless in four league games (D2 L2).

Their struggles have coincided with the injury of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored five goals and provided two assists in their opening five games this season.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Atletico Madrid – Alex Baena

Alex Baena has scored three goals from outside the box in LaLiga in the 2026-27 season, the most by a midfielder after his team's first eight games since Santi Cazorla for Malaga in 2011-12 (four).

Deportivo A Coruna – Bil Nsongo

At 22 years and 25 days old, Deportivo's Bil Nsongo became the youngest player to score for the club in LaLiga since Ivan Cavaleiro in February 2015 (21y 111d) in their last match against Levante.

MATCH PREDICTION: ATLETICO MADRID WIN

Atleti have not lost any of their last 13 matches against Deportivo in LaLiga (W10 D3), since a 2-1 defeat in November 2009, their longest historical unbeaten run against the Galicians in the competition.

At home, Atleti have not lost any of their last 14 matches against Deportivo in LaLiga (W13 D1), winning the last 12 and keeping a clean sheet in the last seven, Atleti's current longest winning run and clean sheet streak at home against the same opponent in the competition.

Simeone has only overseen more home LaLiga games with a 100% win rate against Real Valladolid (seven out of seven) than against Deportivo (five out of five, level with Las Palmas).

Deportivo are also the team Simeone has faced joint most at home without conceding a single goal in the competition (five, level with Las Palmas).

Deportivo have not won any of their last 11 away games against teams from the Community of Madrid in LaLiga (D3 L8), but they have drawn the last two and could pick up points in three consecutive away games against these sides in the competition for the first time in their history.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Atletico Madrid – 71%

Draw – 16.9%

Deportivo A Coruna – 12.1%