Atletico Madrid's defensive solidity and swift counter attacks give them the attributes of a classic 'Italian side', Porto coach Paulo Fonseca said ahead of Tuesday's Champions League Group G clash at the Dragao Stadium.
.
Beating Atletico will be Porto's toughest challenge this season because of the steel Diego Simeone - a former Lazio and Inter Milan midfielder who was said to "play with a knife between his teeth" - has instilled in his side, he added.
.
"We face a team which will pose a level of difficulty that we have not yet faced in our domestic league," Fonseca told a news conference. "Atletico are an Italian team playing in the Spanish championship."
.
Atletico come into the match on a high after stunning Real Madrid 1-0 at the Bernabeu on Saturday for a first success against their bitter city rivals in La Liga this century that kept them level on maximum points with Barcelona at the top.
Well they should try as much as possible to work very hard so as to scale through when the time comes.