MADRID, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Madrid entertain Champions League holders Liverpool in the first leg of their last-16 tie in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Tuesday night in what promises to be a thrilling night.
The game means an early return for Liverpool to the ground where they beat Tottenham 2-0 in last season's final to claim the title and they are favorites to reach the quarterfinals this time around, but Atletico will look to make things difficult for Jurgen Klopp's side.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone is without the injured trio of Joao Felix, Kieran Trippier and Hector Herrera, but striker Diego Costa trained with the rest of the squad on Monday and should be able to play some part in the game. Meanwhile Alvaro Morata made his return from a muscle injury with 30 minutes in Atletico's 2-2 draw away to Valencia on Saturday and should be fit to start.
Morata's return should give more punch in attack to a team that has struggled for goals in recent games and before the weekend's much improved performance Atletico had failed to score in their previous three league games, as well as being knocked out of the Copa del Rey by third tier side, Cultural Leonesa.
Liverpool travel to Spain looking unstoppable in the Premier League, where they hold a 25-point lead over second place Manchester City and need just five more wins to confirm their first league title in 30 years.
Sadio Mane returned from injury with a goal in their weekend win away to Norwich and his pace will trouble Atletico's defense, while Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino offer Liverpool other options up front.
Expect full backs Andrew Robertson and Trent Alexander Arnold to push forward whenever they can and that will pose problems to Atletico's Santiago Arias and Renan Lodi, and central defender Jose Gimenez could be asked to replace Lodi on the left.
The midfield battle between Jordan Henderson and Atletico's Thomas Partey and Marcos Llorente should also be fascinating in what promises to be a tactical game, where Liverpool will think their firepower should just give them the edge.
