Diego Simeone is sure Atletico Madrid will be rewarded for their efforts in front of goal despite a frustrating draw against Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Atleti had 15 shots and generated 1.43 expected goals to Galatasaray's 0.5 on Wednesday, yet they could only draw 1-1 in their penultimate league-phase match.

The draw left Atleti in 12th place, and they must beat Bodo/Glimt next week, plus rely on other results going their way, in order to finish in the top eight.

While Simeone was frustrated by his team's wasteful finishing, the Atletico boss is confident in their approach.

"To win, you have to create chances," he said.

"There are many teams that have game-changers. We're on the path we're on; we'll win games even if we don't shoot much. As a coach, I don't see any other way than to keep trying.

"May Lady Luck grant us a victory. We get what we deserve because we don't convert the chances we create. The team is doing well, but it needs to improve its finishing."

Giuliano Simeone put Atleti ahead after just four minutes, but Galatasaray drew level through Marcos Llorente's own goal. 

Simeone added: "The path we've taken will pay off eventually. That's football.

"We played an impressive first half. We conceded a goal, but they improved in the second half with five at the back. They could have won in the end, but I liked the team."

Julian Alvarez, meanwhile, has not netted in any of his last seven games, but Simeone stressed that it is a team effort to score more goals.

He said: "The team's effectiveness isn't just about the strikers, it's about everyone."

Simeone’s opener was Atleti's earliest ever away goal in the Champions League (3:41), and their earliest on the road in any European competition since November 2010, when Sergio Aguero netted against Rosenborg in the Europa League (3:35).

Atleti have now conceded 13 goals in seven Champions League games this season, their most ever in a league phase/group stage campaign in the competition (12 in 2009-10 and 2024-25); only in 2024-25 have they conceded more goals overall in a single edition (14).

This was also the first time Atleti have drawn a Champions League match since October 2023, when they drew 2-2 with Celtic.