Luis Suarez is expecting Atletico Madrid to challenge Bayern Munich in next game

Atletico Madrid striker Luis Suarez is no stranger to the big stage after his storied stints with both Liverpool and FC Barcelona, but even a veteran like Suarez understands the patience required for a team to adjust to the bright lights of the Champions League.

While Atletico Madrid is not unfamiliar to the competition, Suarez thinks the squad was not quite ready for what it was about to face during this campaign — especially as it pertains to Bayern Munich.

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“I think the Champions League is very different to La Liga,” Suarez said to beIN Sports. “It’s all about the moment of each team. It’s very physical now. The game against Bayern was because they were more efficient than us. From five or six chances they scored four. We had more chances but we couldn’t convert them. That’s costly in the Champions League.”

Suarez acknowledged that his side needed to finish better, but also knows that a more systematic effort is likely the only way to topple a juggernaut like Bayern Munich.

“If we improve on that efficiency, we can compete against Bayern, who are the best team in Europe, or Liverpool, who the team already knocked out last season,” said Suarez, whose teams have been outscored 12-2 in his last two games against Bayern Munich. “If we know what we want and believe in ourselves, we’re capable because we have the players, character and quality. We just need to be clinical in those crucial moments. That’s what you have to do in the Champions League.”