Atletico Madrid never stop believing, but this time they'll have to hope and pray in order to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League. They have everything to do to qualify and first up they need to beat both Roma and Chelsea.
Tonight's game is crucial both in terms of footballing matters as well as economically for Atletico Madrid. If Los Rojiblancos don't make it to the last 16 of the Champions League they will lose out on a huge sum of money, with prize money for reaching the knockout stages averaging at 55 million euros in the past few years. It could be a crisis for the club both on and off the pitch.
Away from those financial figures, Simeone is focusing on much smaller numbers, but that doesn't make them any less important. Atletico find themselves in third place in Group C in the Champions League, four points behind Chelsea and five behind leaders Roma.
Their chances of being in the knockout stages of the European competition rely on Roma or Chelsea drawing or losing to Qarabag, while, at the same time, the La Liga outfit win the next two games against the two teams ahead of them.
The first 'final' for the side from the Spanish capital is on Wednesday evening at the Wanda Metropolitano against Roma. The Serie A side are on formidable form, so Atletico will have to be at the top of their game and give one of their best performances of the season if they want to overcome the first obstacle. Then, if they manage that, they will arrive at Stamford Bridge where they will have to battle for another victory. Even if they manage that, they have to hope Qarabag pick up a point in one of their last two group games.
If they want to reach the knockout stages, Diego Simeone's side are going to have to do it the hard way. Do you think they will manage it?