Shades of Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid. Atleticoplay very much in the image of Diego Simeone, whose ultra-competitive style as a player has been replicated in his coaching philosophy. Sometimes, however, his players cross the line - and that is what happened against Barcelona on Saturday.
Simeone's message is clear. "Games should be played with a knife between your teeth," he has often said. It is an attitude that characterised his career as a player and is also a feature of his astonishing Atletico side - one that has seen them win five trophies in his time at the club (including La Liga) and also reach the Champions League final in 2014.
But there is a fine line on occasions between what is legal and what is not - and on Saturday Atleti's players went too far. With Filipe Luis sent off for a wild challenge on Lionel Messi that left Luis Enrique seething on the sidelines and a red card for the twice-booked Diego Godin late in the game, the visitors ended with nine men at the hardest away ground in Europe - and they had only themselves to blame.
But there is a fine line on occasions between what is legal and what is not - and on Saturday Atleti's players went too far. With Filipe Luis sent off for a wild challenge on Lionel Messi that left Luis Enrique seething on the sidelines and a red card for the twice-booked Diego Godin late in the game, the visitors ended with nine men at the hardest away ground in Europe - and they had only themselves to blame.
Instead of playing with a knife between their teeth, they had stabbed themselves in the back and their indiscipline against Barca evoked echoes of how Mourinho's Madrid often lost control in Clasico clashes, most memorably when Pepe was sent off at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2011 for a savage kick at Dani Alves in the Champions League semi-finals.
That was far from an isolated incident, however. Mourinho often complained of how his team always ended up with 10 men against Barca. But it was no coincidence: in an attempt to stifle Barca's brilliance and superiority, Real routinely resorted to negative tactics - and they often paid the price.
The same can be said for Simeone's side. The visitors had started so well, looking much more alert and awake than a Barca team notoriously slow out of the blocks in games played at 16:00 CET. And when Koke volleyed Atleti in front after 10 minutes, the home side took time to react.
But one of the great virtues of Luis Enrique's Barca is that they can win without playing well, something the Blaugrana rarely managed to do in the past. And with the world's finest forward line at their disposal, they always have a chance. First Messi levelled and later Luis Suarez made it 2-1.
Within the space of a few minutes, it all went wrong for Atletico. After conceding those two goals in quick succession, they then lost their discipline too and Filipe Luis is surely staring at a lengthy ban for his studs-up challenge on Messi's knee - whether he meant to cause harm or not.
The same can be said for Simeone's side. The visitors had started so well, looking much more alert and awake than a Barca team notoriously slow out of the blocks in games played at 16:00 CET. And when Koke volleyed Atleti in front after 10 minutes, the home side took time to react.
But one of the great virtues of Luis Enrique's Barca is that they can win without playing well, something the Blaugrana rarely managed to do in the past. And with the world's finest forward line at their disposal, they always have a chance. First Messi levelled and later Luis Suarez made it 2-1.
Within the space of a few minutes, it all went wrong for Atletico. After conceding those two goals in quick succession, they then lost their discipline too and Filipe Luis is surely staring at a lengthy ban for his studs-up challenge on Messi's knee - whether he meant to cause harm or not.
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