Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone has blasted the league's decision to stage their La Liga clash against Sporting Gijon on Saturday afternoon - 24 hours before Barcelona take to the field.

Atletico needed extra time and penalties to beat PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League on Tuesday, but were back in action in the early start on Saturday afternoon.

The capital outfit were beaten 2-1 at Sporting Gijon as their title hopes took a big hit, and Simeone has criticised the scheduling, which has favoured both Barcelona and Real Madrid this weekend.

"We are pleased to be prime time. We are prime time because we played at 4pm and we have been watched in China. So, I am delighted because we are prime time. But I do not like to look for excuses," Simeone told reporters.

"We have always been aware of our goal. The aim of the club is to be third and we work in order to reach the club's goal. We know in terms of numbers this defeat make things much tougher in order to have any chance to be champions in La Liga."

Atletico will face Barcelona in the quarter-finals of the Champions League next month.