Champions League - Matchpack: Atletico Madrid v Chelsea Atletico Madrid playmaker Arda Turan has been declared fit to face Chelsea. The Turkey international has not featured since picking up a groin injury in the quarter-final, first leg against Barcelona on April 1. Otherwise Diego Simeone has his full squad available after UEFA said on-loan Chelsea keeper Thibaut Courtois could not be blocked from facing his parent club. Chelsea striker Samuel Etoo has been ruled out of the first leg with a minor knee injury. Fernando Torres is therefore expected to start up front at his former club. Eden Hazard is a major doubt as he battles to recover from a calf injury, while Mohamed Salah and Nemanja Matic are cup tied, and Branislav Ivanovic suspended, meaning Ashley Cole could return at left-back and Cesar Azpilicueta switch to the right. MANAGER QUOTES Diego Simeone: I think (Courtois) state of mind is the same as all other 20 members of the squad. Theres a lot of enthusiasm ahead of this match. Its not just important for them, its important for the club. I think they have very important strikers such as Etoo and Torres. They have proven it, they have demonstrated it. They have won the World Cup and Champions League. Torres is always one of thus, though Jose Mourinho: Today and tomorrow and also Wednesday are Champions League days and if you want to speak about the Premier League you have 19 teams in England that you can speak with. Chelsea today and tomorrow is Champions League and we are only available to speak about Champions League. We are lucky to be involved in the Champions League, so we are lucky that in the next two days we dont think about the Premier League and whats happened and what is going to happen because now we only think about tomorrow. MATCH FACTS Chelsea are unbeaten in their last 15 clashes with Spanish sides in the Champions League (W6 D9), their last defeat coming against Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in February 2006. Their last four trips to Spain in the competition have all ended in draws. Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have met three times previously, twice in the Champions League and once in the European Super Cup; both teams have won once along with a drawn fixture. Chelsea are unbeaten against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League (W1 D1); having met in the 2009/10 Group Stages. The three competitive encounters between Atletico Madrid and Chelsea have produced 13 goals. Atletico Madrid have won two of their last three games against English sides in European competition (L1). The Madrid club have travelled to England nine times previously in European competition (excluding qualifiers); winning only once (at Leicester in September 1997, D4 L4). Atletico Madrid have reached the semi-finals of the European Cup/Champions League for the first time since 1974 when they eventually lost in the final against Bayern Munich after a replay. Atletico Madrid have only conceded five goals in 10 Champions League games this season, the best defensive tally in the competition. Atletico Madrid are the only team unbeaten in the Champions League this season (8 wins, 2 draws). Atletico Madrid are one of two teams, alongside Bayern Munich, to have scored in every Champions League game this season. 45% of Atletico’s goals in the Champions League this season have been scored in the opening and closing 15 minutes of games (10 out of 22). Atletico Madrid have completed 76.6% of their passes in the Champions League this season, the lowest ratio among the four teams left in the competition. They are also the only team left in the competition with a possession average under 50% (43%). Atletico Madrid have picked up the most yellow cards in the Champions League this season (23). Chelsea have reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the seventh time since 2003/04, the joint-highest tally with Barcelona. Chelsea have only lost one of their last 10 Champions League matches in the knockout stages (1-3 v PSG in this season’s quarter finals first leg). 61% of Chelsea’s goals in the Champions League this season have been scored in the first-half (11 out of 18). 86% of goals conceded by Chelsea in the Champions League this season have come in the second-half (6 out of 7). Diego Costa has scored seven goals in six Champions League games (1 assist). Thibaut Courtois has saved 82.1% of shots faced in the Champions League this season; Petr Cech has saved 76.7%. It’s the eighth time in 10 full seasons as manager that José Mourinho has reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. It’s the third time with Chelsea after 2005 and 2007; however, he’s never made it to the final with the Blues. Mourinho won three of his four meetings with Diego Simeones Atletico Madrid in all competitions when at Real Madrid (L1). Demba Ba has scored in his last three Champions League games. He finds the net every 47 minutes on average this season, the best ratio of any player with more than 1 goal in the competition.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Apr 2014 08:28:00 +0000
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