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#3 Europa League taking precedence for Atletico
Even if they were to claim a win here and remain hot on the heels of Barcelona, a 9-point gap at the top of the table is still too wide to cement with only eight games remaining. And for that matter, the Blaugrana don't look like ceding such a healthy lead either. They never did.
So with the Europa League perhaps the best chance of a silverware this season, Atletico know exactly which side of the bread is buttered and would definitely go for the kill.
The Colchoneros have stepped one foot in the semi-finals of the competition after the 2-0 win over Sporting Lisbon yesterday, and with the greatest of respect to all the teams involved, Arsenal remain the only real threat on their way. But then again, given the way the Gunners have bottled this season coupled with Atletico's own experience in Europe's biggest of the stages, a victory in Lyon is very much on the cards.
This may compel Simeone and co. to put all their eggs in the Europa League basket, as this is anyways one of the most inconsequential Madrid derbies in the recent memory.
