Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone argues that cup matches should go straight to penalties if the score is level after 90 minutes, eliminating the extra‑time period. He noted that most knockout tournaments currently add a 30‑minute extra‑time segment when regulation time ends in a draw. “It is a situation in the game that we should go directly to penalties, not to extra time, I think,” Simeone said at a Wednesday news conference, adding that the amount of playing time is already considerable.
Atletico Madrid will meet their city rivals Real Madrid on Thursday in the Copa del Rey quarter‑finals. Earlier this month, the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia saw both semi‑finals extend into extra time and penalties, with Real Madrid and Barcelona defeating Valencia and Real Betis, respectively. Real Betis coach Manuel Pellegrini has also questioned the need for extra time, stating, “With the high pace that games are played at now, extra time should not exist. It’s too much to ask, given the speed that we play at today.”
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