---
title: "Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea: Key battles"
canonical: "https://readchelsea.com/2017/09/26/atletico-madrid-vs-chelsea-key-battles/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Ryan Darby"
section: "Chelsea Features & Analysis"
published: "2017-09-26T13:23:09Z"
modified: "2017-09-26T13:23:09Z"
---

# Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea: Key battles

Chelsea face arguably their toughest test of the group stages in the Champions League when they travel to Madrid to face Atletico on Wednesday.

Madrid’s new state of the art stadium, Wanda Metropolitano will get its first taste of the European football when Chelsea arrive in Spain.

Chelsea currently top Group C after beating Qarabag on the opening day of the group, while Madrid were held to a goalless draw away to Roma.

We’ve picked out some key battles that could decide where the game is won and lost.

**David Luiz vs Antoine Griezmann**

David Luiz is likely to return to the starting XI with his three-match suspension not applying to European fixtures.

The Brazilian served the first of three matches on the sideline against Stoke this weekend, but Conte will be keen to get him starting on Wednesday to keep him match sharp.

Griezmann is perhaps Madrid’s biggest threat and his ability create space and run in behind the back line could pose problems for Luiz.

![David Ramos/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/848002862.jpg)

If there’s one type of forward that Luiz struggles against, it’s those that can dictate his position and draw him into areas he doesn’t want to go.

Cutting off the supply to the striker will be just as important, but the French forward is a master of finding space in and around the penalty box.

**Alvaro Morata vs Diego Godin**

Morata will be full of confidence after scoring his first Premier League hat-trick on Saturday, but Wednesday will present his biggest test in a Chelsea shirt so far.

The former Real Madrid man is accustomed to playing in Spain but Madrid’s back line is a cut above anything he has faced in the Premier League this season.

If he felt any pressure about the prospect of replacing Diego Costa at Chelsea, his fellow countryman will not make any easier because he is likely to be watching on from the stands on Wednesday night!

Costa was in attendance to watch Madrid see off Sevilla over the weekend and you can imagine he’ll make another appearance against the Blues.

**N’Golo Kante vs Saul Niguez**

The Champions League is where N’Golo Kante needs to step up and prove himself as a world-class central midfielder this season.

If he can reproduce what he has shown in the Premier League over the last two seasons in Europe then he can be considered as one of the best on the continent in his position.

Keep tabs on Atletico’s exciting young midfielder Saul is going to be a tough task, but between him and Tiemoue Bakayoko, the French duo will need to dominate the midfield in order for Chelsea to come away with three points.

![Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images Sport](https://cdn.readeverything.co/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/847997506.jpg)

**Eden Hazard vs Juanfran**

Eden Hazard is likely to be restored to the starting lineup after being eased back into the Chelsea squad by Antonio Conte.

The Belgian made a huge impact in the big games last season, but with European football to contend with this season, it’s these sort of fixtures that the Blues need the mercurial winger to show his worth and prove he is one up there with the best in the world.

He’s likely to come up against the experienced Juanfran on Wednesday night, who was rested at the weekend against Sevilla, suggesting that it may be he who starts at right back for Atletico.