Big Match Feature: Chelsea v Atletico

Chelsea hold a slender but crucial advantage ahead of their second leg Champions League clash against Atlético de Madrid thanks to Olivier Giroud's acrobatic goal in Bucharest.

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The Frenchman scored the only goal at the Arena Nationala with a spectacular overhead kick in the 68th minute,marking Thomas Tuchel's European debut as Chelsea coach with a win that leaves his new side well placed to reachthe quarterfinals for the first time since 2013/14.

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Both teams have been knockout regulars in recent seasons; this is the sixth time Chelsea have reached this stage inthe last eight campaigns, although they have advanced no further since 2013/14. That campaign was ended byAtlético, who are making a seventh appearance in the Uefa Champions League last 16 in the last eight years.

The London club have enjoyed a straightforward campaign this season, remaining unbeaten to finish first in Group Eahead of Atlético's domestic rivals Sevilla. Atleti, meanwhile, suffered their joint heaviest European defeat onMatchday 1 and have won only two of their seven matches in the 2020/21 Uefa Champions League, victory atSalzburg in their final group fixture securing second place in Group A behind holders Bayern München.

Chelsea have changed head coach since the group stage, replacing Frank Lampard with Tuchel at the end ofJanuary.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

All eight of the clubs' fixtures have come since 2009 and there has been little between them overall; Chelsea now have three victories to Atlético's two and have scored 12 goals, one more than the Spanish club.

Atlético and Chelsea were paired together in the 2017/18 group stage, the English club winning 2-1 in Spain before a1-1 draw in London.

The teams had previously met in the 2013/14 semifinals, when the first game in Spain finished goalless.

The following week at Stamford Bridge, José Mourinho's Chelsea looked on course for the final when FernandoTorres, who had two spells at Atlético, gave them a 36th-minute lead. However, Adrián López levelled a minute beforehalf-time, then Diego Costa (60pen) – who joined Chelsea three months later – and Arda Turan (72) gave the visitorsvictory.

These sides also met in the 2012 Uefa Super Cup when Radamel Falcao's first-half hat-trick earned Atlético a 4-1 success in Monaco and their second triumph in the competition in three years. Gary Cahill got Chelsea's consolationafter Miranda had made it 4-0 on the hour.

The teams' other meetings came in the 2009/10 Uefa Champions League group stage when Chelsea collected four points from their Spanish rivals to finish top of Group D. Atlético came third and transferred to the maiden edition ofthe Uefa Europa League, which they eventually won, beating Chelsea's local rivals Fulham in the final.

Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea prevailed 4-0 at Stamford Bridge, Salomon Kalou scoring twice (41, 52) before Lampard (69) added another and Luis Perea (90+1) headed a Florent Malouda free-kick into his own net. The defeat promptedthe departure of Atlético coach Abel Resino, Quique Sánchez Flores taking over.

The game in Spain two weeks later ended 2-2, confirming Chelsea's knockout place and ending Atlético's hopes. Substitute Sergio Agüero (66, 90+1) earned a point despite Didier Drogba's double (82, 88).

FORM GUIDE

CHELSEA

Chelsea made smooth progress through Group E, winning all three away fixtures and dropping points only in their first and last fixtures, at home to Sevilla (0-0) and Krasnodar (1-1) respectively. Rennes were beaten 3-0 at StamfordBridge before the English club picked up maximum points at Krasnodar (4-0), Rennes (2-1) and Sevilla (4-0); the latterresult made sure of first place in the section, Giroud becoming the first Chelsea player to score four times in aEuropean Cup match – and at 34 years 63 days the oldest hat-trick scorer in Uefa Champions League history.

Fourth in the Premier League in 2019/20, this is Chelsea's 17th venture into the Uefa Champions League and a third in four years. The exception came in 2018/19, when they won the Uefa Europa League under Maurizio Sarri.

Last season Lampard's side recovered from a Matchday 1 defeat at home to Valencia (0-1) to progress as Group H runners-up with 11 points, finishing behind the Spanish side on head-to-head record, before losing to eventualchampions Bayern (0-3 h, 1-4 a) in the last 16.

Chelsea's record in the round of 16 is W8 L6. They have lost their last four contests at this stage.

Chelsea have won only two of their last eight European matches at Stamford Bridge (D4 L2).

Despite their five victories this season, the Blues have won only six of their last 12 Uefa Champions League matches (D4 L2).

European champions in 2012 having been runners-up four years earlier, Chelsea have now won their Uefa Champions League group 12 times, although they were runners-up in their section on each of their previous twoparticipations before this season.

Last season's home loss to Valencia was one of only four defeats in the Blues' last 27 matches against Spanish opponents, home and away (W9 D14). They are without a win in their last five games against Spanish clubs atStamford Bridge (D3 L2), since a 1-0 victory against Barcelona in the 2011/12 Uefa Champions League semifinalfirst leg.

However, despite the victories in Seville and Bucharest this season, Chelsea have still won only three of their last 13 fixtures against Liga clubs, home and away (D6 L4), the other that 2017 win at Atlético.

Chelsea have played 11 two-legged knockout ties against Spanish clubs (W4 L7), most recently in the 2017/18 Uefa Champions League round of 16 when they lost 3-0 at Barcelona in the second leg to go down 4-1 overall.

Tuchel is unbeaten as a head coach against Spanish clubs (W2 D3).

The London club were unbeaten in their first five home knockout games against Spanish teams in Uefa competition (W4 D1) but that 2012 victory against Barcelona is their only success in the six subsequent matches (D3 L2).

Chelsea have never been eliminated from Uefa competition after recording an away first-leg win, winning 12 ties out of 12. The most recent came in the quarterfinals of their victorious Uefa Europa League campaign in 2018/19, a1-0 win away to Slavia Praha preceding a 4-3 success at Stamford Bridge. That was the fifth tie in which they won theaway first leg 1-0.

Chelsea's record in six Uefa penalty shoot-outs is W2 L4:
- 1-4 v Liverpool, 2006/07 Uefa Champions League semifinal
- 5-6 v Manchester United, 2007/08 Uefa Champions League final
- 4-3 v Bayern München, 2011/12 Uefa Champions League final
- 4-5 v Bayern München, 2013 Uefa Super Cup
- 4-3 v Eintracht Frankfurt, 2018/19 Uefa Europa League semifinal
- 4-5 v Liverpool, 2019 Uefa Super Cup

ATLETICO

The Rojiblancos responded to a record-equalling 4-0 opening loss at Bayern with a 3-2 home win against Salzburg. They drew their next three matches, away (1-1) and home (0-0) against Lokomotiv Moskva and 1-1 against Bayern,ending the holders' competition-record winning streak at 15, before ensuring they would join the Munich club in theround of 16 with a 2-0 win at Salzburg on Matchday 6.

Third in Spain in 2019/20, this is Atlético's 11th Uefa Champions League campaign and eighth in a row; they are in the knockout stages for the ninth time.

Last season, Diego Simeone's side finished second in their section behind Juventus, picking up ten points. Atlético then ousted holders Liverpool in impressive style in the round of 16 (1-0 h, 3-2 a aet) but came up short againstLeipzig in the quarterfinals in Lisbon, going down 2-1.

Atlético have lost only eight of their last 38 European matches (W21 D9), although five of those defeats have come in their last 13.

Three of Atleti's last six away European matches have ended in defeat, the exceptions last season's win at Liverpool and the draw at Lokomotiv and victory at Salzburg in the current campaign.

Atlético have won five of their seven round of 16 ties. Last season's 3-2 second-leg win at Liverpool was only Atlético's second victory in their last ten away matches in the Uefa Champions League knockout rounds (D2 L6).

Atleti have been victorious in nine of their 11 two-legged knockout contests against English teams, including the last five; only Derby County (1974/75 Uefa Cup) and Bolton Wanderers (2007/08 Uefa Cup) have eliminated them.

The victory at Liverpool in 2019/20 was just Atlético's third win in 14 away games against English clubs, with four defeats. The Madrid side are unbeaten in their last five visits to England, however (W2 D3).

The Madrid club have reached the quarterfinals or better in five of their last seven Uefa Champions League campaigns – all under Simeone.

The Rojiblancos have reached two Uefa Champions League and three Uefa Europa League finals in the last 11 seasons.

Atlético have lost all seven Uefa competition ties in which they were beaten in the home first leg, most recently against Rubin Kazan in the 2012/13 Uefa Europa League round of 32 (0-2 h, 1-0 a). Their sole 1-0 first-leg home loss came against Lazio in the 1997/98 Uefa Cup semifinals (0-0 a).

Atlético's record in six Uefa penalty shoot-outs is W2 L4:
- 6-7 v Derby, 1974/75 Uefa Cup second round
- 1-3 v Fiorentina, 1989/90 Uefa Cup first round
- 1-3 v Villarreal, 2004 Uefa Intertoto Cup final
- 3-2 v Bayer Leverkusen, 2014/15 Uefa Champions League round of 16
- 8-7 v PSV Eindhoven, 2015/16 Uefa Champions League round of 16
- 3-5 v Real Madrid, 2015/16 Uefa Champions League final

LINKS AND TRIVIA

Have played in England:
- Kieran Trippier (Manchester City 1999–2012, Barnsley 2010, 2010/11 loan, Burnley 2011–15, Tottenham 2015–19) Stefan Savic (Manchester City 2011–12)Lucas Torreira (Arsenal 2018–20)

Have played in Spain:
- Kepa (Athletic Club 2014–18, Ponferradina 2015 loan, Valladolid 2015/16 loan)
- César Azpilicueta (Osasuna 2001–10)
- Marcos Alonso (Real Madrid 1999–2010)
- Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid 2015–18)
- Willy Caballero (Elche 2004–11, Málaga 2011–14)

Have played together:
- Marcos Alonso & Stefan Savic (Fiorentina 2013–15)

International teammates:
- Reece James, Ben Chilwell, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount, Tammy Abraham & Kieran Trippier (England)
- Mateo Kovacic & Šime Vrsaljko (Croatia)
- Kepa, Marcos Alonso & Koke, Saúl Ñíguez, Marcos Llorente, Mario Hermoso, Vitolo (Spain)
- Kurt Zouma, N'Golo Kanté, Olivier Giroud & Thomas Lemar (France)
- Thiago Silva & Renan Lodi, Felipe (Brazil).