Diego Simeone insisted that Atletico Madrid are not bothered by their busy schedule as they prepare to face Real Sociedad in LaLiga.
Atleti qualified for the Copa del Rey final during the week despite their 3-0 semi-final second leg defeat to Barcelona, with Simeone's side winning 4-3 on aggregate.
They also played Club Brugge over two legs in the Champions League play-offs, while they will face Tottenham in the last 16 of the competition over the next two weeks.
Simeone's men have won their last two LaLiga matches, 4-2 against Espanyol and 1-0 away at Real Oviedo, and could record three or more consecutive victories in the competition for a second time this season.
The Argentinian coach is still seeking improvements in the league, but believes Atleti will be buoyed on by their home fans at the Metropolitano.
"Obviously, we need to keep improving in La Liga," Simeone said. "So I hope that we can have a good atmosphere and that we can respond in the best possible way.
"We are used to competing and playing games back-to-back, and I have no doubt that there will be an incredible atmosphere in the stadium.
"Our fans are very happy that the team has reached the [Copa del Rey] final, they’re happy because the team is fighting it out in the Champions League.
Atleti will also face La Real in the Copa del Rey final, with the latter defeating Basque rivals Athletic Club in the last four.
Although Simeone anticipates a different encounter in the showpiece, he is still wary of the threat La Real pose under Pellegrino Matarazzo.
"I understand that the final will be different because it’s a final, and we’ll compete as best we can against a team that has been doing very well since their coach arrived," added Simeone.
"I think they’ve only lost one game, if I’m not mistaken, against [Real] Madrid after playing Athletic in the first semifinal, who also rotated quite a few players.
"So I imagine a competitive team with a lot of young players who are doing very well, and the truth is that since the coach arrived, the team has changed enormously."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Atletico Madrid – Alexander Sorloth
Sorloth has only scored more LaLiga goals against Rayo Vallecano (seven in eight games) than against Real Sociedad (six).
He is also the only player to have scored four goals in a single match against La Real in the top-flight in the 21st century.
Real Sociedad – Carlos Soler
Soler scored La Real's winner in their last LaLiga match against Mallorca (1-0).
However, he has played more games against Atleti in the competition without scoring (13) than against any other opponent.
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLETICO MADRID WIN
Atleti are unbeaten in their last 12 LaLiga games against Real Sociedad (W7 D5) since a 2-0 defeat in September 2019, and could equal their longest unbeaten run against them in the competition (13 games – W8 D5 between April 1970 and April 1976).
Simeone's side are also currently on their longest unbeaten run (P12 W10 D2) and scoring run (24 goals in 12 games) at home against La Real in LaLiga in the 21st century.
La Real have won two of their last six visits to teams from Madrid in LaLiga (D1 L3), twice as many victories as in their previous 15 away games against these sides in the competition (W1 D8 L6).
However, after losing three of their first four away games in LaLiga in 2025/26 (D1), Real Sociedad have only been defeated in two of their last nine matches on the road in the competition (W3 D4).
La Real (49, level with Valencia) could become the third team against which Simeone's Atletico team reaches 50 LaLiga goals, after Sevilla (54) and Getafe (50).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atletico Madrid – 55.8%
Draw – 23.5%
Real Sociedad – 20.7%