Atletico Madrid welcome Chelsea to the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday for what will inevitably be an exciting Premier League tie.
A repeat of the semi-final tie of the 2013/14 Champions League campaign, the last time these two sides faced off, the Spaniards came away with a 3-1 aggregate victory with all the goals of the tie coming in the second leg at Stamford Bridge.
Both sides come into matchday two of the Champions League in good form, with Chelsea leading Group C following the 6-0 demolition of Qarabag, while Atletico managed a 0-0 draw against AS Roma.
Ahead of what will be an exciting fixture, here’s a combined 11 of players from the two European heavyweights.
1. Jan Oblak
The 24-year-old Slovenian has made a big name for himself with Atletico since making the switch from Liga Nos side Benfica in 2014.
Signing for £14.3m, becoming La Liga’s most expensive goalkeeper, Oblak kept 21 clean sheets from 41 games for Los Rojiblancos in the 2016/17 campaign, an impressive feat by any standards.
2. Juanfran
Juanfran has embodied consistency at the back for Atletico for years. Since joining from CA Osasuna in 2011, the Spaniard has made a name for himself, contending with Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal for the position of Spain’s right back position.
The 32-year-old perfectly embodies the balanced playstyle Diego Simeone instils in his side, committing to attack and defence in equal measure, not giving his opponents a minute to rest.
3. Diego Godin
Diego Godin has been perhaps one of the most consistent centre backs in European football over the past few seasons.
Strong in the tackle and a threat in the air, the 31-year-old Uruguayan has been stalwart in Atletico’s defence since joining from Villarreal in 2010.
4. David Luiz
Sign re-joining Chelsea from Paris Saint Germain, David Luiz has shown exactly what he is capable of regarding his defensive ability. Despite not leaving such a great impression upon the expiry of his first stint at Stamford Bridge, the Brazilian has since made a great account of himself in Chelsea’s back line.
Capable of playing the ball out from the back, suiting Chelsea’s style down to a tee, David Luiz has built a reputation for himself as one of the Blues’ most reliable defenders.
5. Cesar Azpilicueta
Perhaps one of Chelsea’s most underrated players, Azpilicueta has proven himself to be a top class full back time and again since Rafael Benitez recruited the Spaniard in 2012.
Able to play anywhere across the back line, the 28-year-old full back has been a mainstay in the Chelsea lineup as a result of his flexibility. Never shirking his defensive duties, Azpilicueta is also capable of contributing on the attack, most recently forming an almost telepathic understanding with compatriot Alvaro Morata.
6. Saul Niguez
Saul’s resilience alone would be enough to earn himself a place in many teams across Europe however, the 22-year-old Spaniard has the talent to back up the passion and tenacity he shows on a daily basis.
Risking his health each time he plays, having sustained a kidney injury at the age of 20, Saul’s passion has helped him to overcome the odds and play for the team he loves.
However, the Spaniard’s positive attributes don’t stop there as he has demonstrated he is a versatile player with a great passing range and a keen eye for goal.
7. N’Golo Kante
When it comes to playing un-glamorous roles in football, N’Golo Kante may just write the book on it. Perhaps the mostly highly praised ‘unsung hero’ of all time, it’s no secret just how much Kante contributes to Chelsea’s success.
Kante works tirelessly in the centre of the park to break up opposition play and turn defence into attack, making himself a key component of Chelsea’s forward play.
8. Cesc Fabregas
A seasoned veteran of the game, Cesc Fabregas has performed to the highest standard wherever he has gone. Since breaking through as a world class midfielder at Arsenal, Fabregas has gone on to play for Barcelona, before returning to the Premier League with Chelsea.
With the Blues, Fabregas has proven integral to Chelsea’s success over the past few seasons, notching 48 assists from 141 games. An incredibly versatile player, able to play anywhere across the midfield, the service the Spaniard provides to Chelsea’s frontline will be crucial in the Spanish capital on Wednesday.
9. Eden Hazard
What can be said about Chelsea’s Belgian magician that hasn’t already been spoken of? Eden Hazard has been the shining light of an incredibly talented Chelsea team since joining from Lille in 2012.
Operating primarily from the left wing, Hazard has been a menace to Premier League defence’s for years, scoring 72 goals and making 64 assists and performing consistently well week after week, he’ll certainly give Atletico’s defence trouble on Wednesday.
10. Alvaro Morata
Since joining Chelsea for a questionable £70m, it hasn’t taken long for Morata to shake off the doubters and prove himself a big hit in the Premier League. So far this campaign, the 24-year-old frontman has played six games and scored six goals in the Premier League, as well as notching a further two assists.
Despite struggling to find his feet at Real Madrid and Juventus, Morata is finally showing his former employers exactly what they’re missing out on.
11. Antoine Griezmann
Arguably one of the world’s finest strikers, Antoine Griezmann joins a long list of strikers to make a name for themselves at Atletico. Following in the footsteps of Fernando Torres, Sergio Aguero, Falcao and Diego Costa, Griezmann has been a consistently impressive force spearheading the Rojiblancos’ attack.
Since joining from Real Sociedad in 2014, Griezmann has notched an impressive 85 goals from 165 games for Diego Simeone’s side, cementing his reputation as a world class forward.
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