That they deserve to be in the Uefa Champions League semifinals cannot be up for discussion, because anybody that keeps the triumvirate of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar quiet must be worthy.We know they're hard workers. Watching Wednesday night's testy encounter at the Vicente Calderón Stadium reminded us of it once again.The visitors regularly boasted 70% possession of the ball, yet goalkeeper Jan Oblak enjoyed an untroubled night.It did help that Luis Enrique's men have suddenly struggled in front of goal, leaving us all bemused.This month Barcelona have lost 1-2 to Real Madrid, 0-1 to Real Sociedad in La Liga, 0-2 to Atletico in the Champions League quarterfinal second leg - their only win coming in the first leg. Messi has not scored in five matches.Diego Godin & Co were content with letting Barca have the ball anywhere else other than in their box, but when their fortress was threatened, no Barca player was free for long.Of the four semifinalists (including Manchester City, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich), Diego Simeone's men have the most interceptions this season (190) and have made the most tackles (245).That's all very well, but Barcelona had beaten Atletico three times already this season - the score2-1 each time.The most recent of those was the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, when Fernando Torres was sent off for two yellow cards, yet Suarez remained on the pitch despite kicking out at Juanfran.Cue the siege mentality perfected to a fault by Alex Ferguson (look up "Rafa Benitez facts rant" and "Kevin Keegan I would love it" on YouTube to refresh your memory).British sports psychologist Andy Barton said: "If you make yourself out to be a victim in a situation, if you've got loyalty in your team, it just creates a stronger bond."If you create a common enemy you have something to rally your team around and so they're supporting a particular cause."You create a purpose in your team."There are few teams who do it better than Atletico Madrid."Barcelona are protected. You realise the fear when Barcelona could get knocked out. It would hurt Uefa a lot," bemoaned Felipe Luis after the first quarterfinal leg.Simeone had lots to say, too. On the eve of Wednesday's match, he said Atletico "want to get to the last four and annoy people in the Champions League just like we are doing in La Liga".They now lie just three points off the La Liga summit, sandwiched between the traditional favourites of Barcelona and Real Madrid.It's how they operate: they thrive on the opportunity to gatecrash the Barcelona-Real Madrid stranglehold in La Liga.They make themselves believe the world is against them.If Simeone was a tattoos man, he would have one across his forehead (he's that manic) reading "Fuck rules", and his lieutenants on the field, defender Godin and captain Gabi, would likely emulate him.Until Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane realised he could be using the money he was racking up in fines for his outbursts elsewhere - it was his ploy, too, to shift the attention from his players, while using the criticism to rouse them in the dressing room.He complained, à la Jose Mourinho, of a campaign against his club.In the world of elite sport, any advantage one can eke out is valuable.Twitter: @Vida15..