17 February 2019
In the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League group stage, the two teams competed against each other. In the first leg at Vicente Calderón, the hosts won 1-0 with a goal from Arda Turan. Back then, Mario Mandžukić played for Los Colchoneros. He lined-up alongside Diego Godín, Juanfran, Koke, Saúl Ñíguez and substitute Antoine Griezmann, while Jan Oblak and José María Giménez remained on the bench. Out of Massimiliano Allegri’s current squad, Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci were both on the pitch for the Bianconeri, with the return match ending goalless in Turin. The result meant Atlético finished in first place and Juventus in second, nonetheless, both clubs progressed to the knockout stages.
ATLETICO VS ITALIAN TEAMS...
Atletico have faced Italian teams in two-legged knockout rounds on eight occasions, winning four and losing four. Their most recent battle was against AC Milan in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League, which ended with a 5-1 aggregate win against the Rossoneri (1-0 A, 4-1 H).
Los Colchoneros have won the last five home games against Italian teams; the most recent was a 2-0 victory against Roma on the fifth day of the UEFA Champions League group stage. Atlético have won seven of their last nine games against Serie A teams (home and away, with two draws); the last defeat was 2-0 at Udinese in the 2011/12 UEFA Europa League group stage.
...Juve vs the Spanish
Juve's record in double headers against Spanish teams is nine wins and seven defeats. Having beaten Valencia away from home (2-0) and at home (1-0) earlier this season, Juventus now head to Madrid on the back of three consecutive victories against Spanish opposition. However, the Bianconeri have won only three of their last nine away games in Spain, including the last two. Their overall away record in Spain is: W6 D6 L16.
So many crossings!
Simeone played in Italy, wearing the jerseys of Pisa, Inter and Lazio. Mandžukić switched to Juventus from Atlético in 2015. In the Spanish capital, he spent only one season, scoring 12 goals in 28 league games. Atlético's January acquisition, Álvaro Morata, played with Juventus between 2014 and 2016, scoring 27 goals in 93 games in all competitions, including goals in both the semi-finals and the UEFA Champions League final 2014/15. Cristiano Ronaldo played in Real Madrid (of which he is the club’s record scorer) from 2009 to 2018, scoring 311 goals in 292 league games and winning four UEFA Champions League. The striker scored in the victorious final of 2014 against Atlético and scored the decisive penalty two years later, all while scoring a hat-trick in the first semi-final in 2017. The Portuguese has faced Atlético 31 times among all competitions, scoring 22 goals (W14 D9 L8). Others who have also played in Spain: Sami Khedira (Real Madrid 2010-15) João Cancelo (Valencia 2014-18) Martín Cáceres (Recreativo Huelva 2007/08, Barcelona 2008/09, Sevilla 2010-12) With the Real Madrid shirt, Khedira defeated Atlético in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League final.
National teammates
National teammates: Diego Godín, José María Giménez and Rodrigo Bentancur, Martín Cáceres (Uruguay), Filipe Luís and Alex Sandro, Douglas Costa (Brazil), Santiago Arias and Juan Cuadrado (Colombia), Ángel Correa and Paulo Dybala (Argentina), Gelson Martins and Cristiano Ronaldo, João Cancelo (Portugal).
