17 December 2018
THE SEASON SO FAR IN SPAIN
It's a very tight La Liga this season, with Barcelona currently leading the way on 34 points, just three ahead of Sevilla and Atlético Madrid, who are both tied on 31 points. each.
Diego Simone's men have eight wins, seven draws and one defeat this season, conceding just 12 goals, giving them the best defence in La Liga. At the other end Atléti have scored 24 goals, of which six of them have come from Antoine Griezmann, the team's top scorer.
Last time out in the league Atlético edged out Real Valladolid 2-3 away from home. Los Colchoneros went ahead on 26 minutes through Nikola Kalinic, with Griezmann doubling their lead just before half time from the penalty spot. However, in the second half Valladolid got a goal back in the 57th minute via Fernando Calero, and then six minutes later an own-goal by Saul Niguez tied the game at 2-2. 10 minutes from time Griezmann was once more decisive, as he scored his team's winner.
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FORM
Atlético finished second in Group A behind Borussia Dortmund and ahead of Club Brugge and Monaco on 13 points, the result of four wins, one draw and one loss.
Last year the Spaniards came third in Group C behind Roma and Chelsea, but then went on to win the Europa League after eliminating Copenhagen, Lokomotiv Moscow, Sporting Lisbon, Arsenal and then Marseille in the final.
At the beginning of the season, in Tallinn, on 15 August. Atlético Madrid also won the European Super Cup, beating Real Madrid 4-2 in the Madrid derby with two goals from Diego Costa, Saul Niguez and Koke.
PREVIOUS MATCHES AGAINST JUVE
There have been seven encounters in total between Atlético and Juventus.
The Bianconeri have four times and drawn once, with Atlético winning twice. Juve have scored 10 goals to Atletico's seven.
Juve and Atlético last met in the two sides' first ever Champions League fixtures in 2014/15. Atléti won 1-0 in Spain thanks to an Arda Turan goal, whilst it was 0-0 in Turin, as both teams went on to qualify from their Champions League group. In the Atlético team four years ago there also happened to be a certain Mario Mandzukic...
