Atletico Madrid are without influential centre-back Diego Godin (hamstring) for their Champions League semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich.
All attention will be on the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night as Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone do battle in one of the most anticipated games of the year. By virtue of beating the reigning champions and favourites, Atletico might have moved into the category. The two managers could not be any different in there approaches to the game. Diego Simeone likes to concede possession and put his faith in his side's defensive qualities. Pep Guardiola likes to beat you with the ball and Bayern are likely
to own it for anywhere between 70 and 80% over the two legs. This one is intriguing for a number of reasons but Pep versus Cholo might be the main one.
League position: Atletico currently sit tied for 1st in La Liga. They are behind Barcelona, however, in head-to-head and will lose out unless Barcelona drop points in their last three games.
Probable starting lineup: Jan Oblak, Juanfran, Stefan Savic, Lucas Hernandez, Filipe Luis, Augusto Fernandez, Gabi, Saul Niguez, Koke, Antoine Griezmann, Fernando Torres.
Potential game-changers off the bench: Angel Correa, Yannick Carrasco.
How they got here: Atletico finished top of a group that also contained Benfica, Galatasaray and FC Astana. They won four, drew one and lost once to Benfica before knocking out PSV Eindhoven on penalties in the round of 16. Barcelona were there next victims and despite carrying a 2-1 defeat into the second leg, to goals from Antoine Griezmann were enough to see off a mighty challenge from the reigning champions.
"The biggest achievement for Atletico is that now it can be compared to Barcelona and Real Madrid," Guardiola said. "This is Simeone's biggest achievement.
"Atletico have a big heart and a very good mentality. This is a top, top team. They are very, very dangerous.
"I know exactly how special Atletico's team is and with how much determination they play."
Atleti out for revenge
Atletico, who have never been crowned European champions, are facing the club that denied them in the 1974 European Cup final.
Bayern's maiden win sparked a run of three straight successes, with current coach Pep Guardiola - in his final season before joining Manchester City - now trying to clinch their sixth triumph in Europe's leading club competition.
Atletico's fortunes have contrasted sharply, with another final defeat - against neighbours Real Madrid in 2014 - the nearest they have been to winning the trophy since.
Diego Simeone's side beat holders Barcelona in the quarter-finals and have conceded just five goals in this season's competition.
"I'm expecting a hard match against an opponent with a lot of attacking potential, against a coach who changes from game to game," Simeone said.
"Obviously we have a coach and players with different characteristics. But in wars it isn't the side with the most soldiers that wins, it's the side that uses its soldiers better."
All attention will be on the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday night as Pep Guardiola and Diego Simeone do battle in one of the most anticipated games of the year. By virtue of beating the reigning champions and favourites, Atletico might have moved into the category. The two managers could not be any different in there approaches to the game. Diego Simeone likes to concede possession and put his faith in his side's defensive qualities. Pep Guardiola likes to beat you with the ball and Bayern are likely
to own it for anywhere between 70 and 80% over the two legs. This one is intriguing for a number of reasons but Pep versus Cholo might be the main one.
League position: Atletico currently sit tied for 1st in La Liga. They are behind Barcelona, however, in head-to-head and will lose out unless Barcelona drop points in their last three games.
Probable starting lineup: Jan Oblak, Juanfran, Stefan Savic, Lucas Hernandez, Filipe Luis, Augusto Fernandez, Gabi, Saul Niguez, Koke, Antoine Griezmann, Fernando Torres.
Potential game-changers off the bench: Angel Correa, Yannick Carrasco.
How they got here: Atletico finished top of a group that also contained Benfica, Galatasaray and FC Astana. They won four, drew one and lost once to Benfica before knocking out PSV Eindhoven on penalties in the round of 16. Barcelona were there next victims and despite carrying a 2-1 defeat into the second leg, to goals from Antoine Griezmann were enough to see off a mighty challenge from the reigning champions.
"The biggest achievement for Atletico is that now it can be compared to Barcelona and Real Madrid," Guardiola said. "This is Simeone's biggest achievement.
"Atletico have a big heart and a very good mentality. This is a top, top team. They are very, very dangerous.
"I know exactly how special Atletico's team is and with how much determination they play."
Atleti out for revenge
Atletico, who have never been crowned European champions, are facing the club that denied them in the 1974 European Cup final.
Bayern's maiden win sparked a run of three straight successes, with current coach Pep Guardiola - in his final season before joining Manchester City - now trying to clinch their sixth triumph in Europe's leading club competition.
Atletico's fortunes have contrasted sharply, with another final defeat - against neighbours Real Madrid in 2014 - the nearest they have been to winning the trophy since.
Diego Simeone's side beat holders Barcelona in the quarter-finals and have conceded just five goals in this season's competition.
"I'm expecting a hard match against an opponent with a lot of attacking potential, against a coach who changes from game to game," Simeone said.
"Obviously we have a coach and players with different characteristics. But in wars it isn't the side with the most soldiers that wins, it's the side that uses its soldiers better."
