On September 27, 2017, the Wanda Metropolitano made its debut in the Champions League with an overflowing illusion that turned into great disappointment. A goal from Batshuayi in the last second of the game gave Chelsea the victory and Atlético consummated their first defeat in the new stadium (1-2) after a comeback with Morata as the protagonist to equal Griezmann’s goal. A game had lost Atleti de Simeone in four years playing Champions in Vicente Calderón (against Benfica) and the first of changes the team directed at that time by Antonio Conte had already equaled the figure.
However, since that fateful memory, Atlético has not fallen back in their stadium. Yes as a local, since Chelsea itself took the victory last season Bucharest in the round of 16 0-1 when the coronavirus prevented the English from entering Spain and Atlético had to move to play ‘at home’ in the stadium where they had won the Europa League in 2012. But, in the Wanda Metropolitano, the last 14 games have ended in victory or draw. And that great rivals have come to try to end the streak. Juventus twice (2-0 and 2-2), Borussia Dortmund (2-0), Liverpool (1-0) or Bayern (1-1) They have tried to storm the colchonero fiefdom without success after suffering the strength of the Wanda Metropolitano.
And again Liverpool will be the great litmus test as it already happened on February 18, 2020, when a lone goal by Saúl led the pass to the quarterfinals of Atlético certified in the historic overtime at Anfield. An extra time where Marcos Llorente’s career took a complete turn with his double, finished off with a goal by Morata to take the 2-3 victory against a team that at that time defended European crown (obtained curiously in the Metropolitan Wanda against Tottenham of Trippier). And Klopp’s team is thirsty for revenge.
The reds have started the course at a high level and already they endorsed five goals to rocky Porto in their first outing in the Champions League (1-5). Liverpool have added six points in the Champions League so far, for Atlético’s four thanks to the comeback in extremis against Milan. But Simeone knows that playing against his people is a plus. With the stadium delivered, it was recently achieved a great victory against Barcelona, Until two years ago it was inaccessible in the League, and again in the visit of the English they will enjoy a great entrance. Cholo has spent the entire break studying how to stop the English forward and is aware that will have to become strong behind with the absences of Giménez and Savic.
A new great game where Atlético relies on its power at home to try to get some points that would be very important in search of qualification for the round of 16. All this happens to maintain a streak that has lasted more than four years and in which they have also been immersed Qarabag, Roma, Bruges, Monaco, Lokomotiv Moscow twice, Bayer Leverkusen, Salzburg and Porto in the present course.