Former Barcelona striker David Villa has claimed that his former club certainly did not like to face Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Villa is currently playing for Atletico Madrid after having joined the club in the summer for around £ 4 million.

Even though he has not been a regular first-team player for the club, manager Diego Simeone has been able to get the best out of the player whenever star striker Diego Costa as been in need of rest or injured. As the record goalscorer for the Spanish national team, Villa has been a consistent player over the last decade.

His arrival has only strengthened Atletico Madrid, who are looking to become the first team outside the duo of Real Madrid and Barcelona to win the la Liga title in the last 10 years. They can go top of the table with a win over Real Betis this Sunday. They will be hoping that Barcelona, who face Real Madrid in the El Clasico just ahead of this match, will drop points as well. They have drawn against the Catalan club in an all-Spanish affair in the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Due to their experienced in the European competitions, Barcelona are regarded as the favourites, but Villa says that it is anything but.

“I have found memories of Barca but I will fight to beat them, in the league and in a hard eliminator. We must be at our best, but Barca didn’t want to see us in the quarter-finals. We’re fighting with Real Madrid and Barca for the title, which is already an achievement. There is a lot of value in what we are doing, but for now we’re not contemplating what it would be like to win the League. One of the mantras of Diego Simeone is game by game and we respect that,” said Villa.