Build Up To The Game:
Chelsea will lock horns against one of the most difficult sides of world football, Atletico Madrid at their own den. Chelsea will face the toughest test of the season till date on Wednesday, as they look to leave their mark in the Champions League group stages. The footballing world is waiting with all enthusiasm to watch the tactical battle between the two masterminds Antonio Conte and Diego Simeone. Both teams have a strong squad and are one of the contenders to win the Champions League this season, with the Premier League giants making an emphatic statement on the opening day of the competition already.
The Blues had won against Qarabag FK in their first encounter of Group C with a convincing scoreline of 6-0 while Atletico had drawn against AS Roma with a 0-0 scoreline.
Both the teams will be confident enough before the beginning of the match due to their recent domestic performance.
In the previous weekend Chelsea had beaten the Potters with a brilliant hat trick of Alvaro Morata and Atletico emerged victorious against Sevilla by a margin of 2 goals coming from Griezmann and Carassaco. The two teams are very organized in their defense and conceded very less goals in this season.
Team News :
Atletico Madrid :
Diego Godin and Juanfran were rested against Sevilla previous weekend but Diego Simeone will surely be back in the Atletico’s first Eleven against Chelsea on Wednesday. Oblak will be starting at Goal. Luis and Juanfran will be the two side backs while Savic and Godin will be in the heart of the defense for the Madrid side .
Koke, Saul, Gabi and Partey are expected to get the start at the midfield while Correa and Griezmann will lead them from the front.
Chelsea :
Chelsea goalie Thibaut Courtois had received an injury during the match against Stoke City in the previous match and was given treatment in the field but Conte confirmed that the Belgian International will surely start against his previous club Atletico Madrid on Wednesday. David Luiz, Gary Cahill and Cesar Azpilicueta are expected to start in the three man defense of Chelsea. Moses and Alonso will start as two wing-backs while Kante and Bakayoko will be in the central midfield position for them. Pedro and Hazard are expected to help Alvaro Morata in the upfront of the field.
Predicted First Eleven :
Atletico Madrid :(4-4-2)
Goalkeeper : Oblak
Defenders : Luis, Savic, Godin, Juanfran.
Midfielders : Koke, Saul, Partey, Gabi.
Attackers : Correa, Griezmann.
Chelsea : (3-4-3)
Goalkeeper : Courtois
Defenders : Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill.
Midfielders : Moses, Kante, Bakayoko, Alonso.
Attackers : Hazard, Morata, Pedro.
My Predicted Scoreline :
Atletico Madrid 1-2 Chelsea.
The game will surely be a close encounter but looking at the form that the west London outfit are in, things should drift in their favour in this one, if they perform the way that they have been doing so far this term. Conte will want more of the same from his side and the match will be worth the wait, as this encounter will be expected to be highly intense, with the Diego Costa transfer saga, that has been the talk of the summer for all the wrong reasons.
