Atlético Madrid Vs Chelsea Preview: Date, Time And Viewing Info For First Leg Of UEFA Champions League Semifinal

Diego Costa Atletico Madrid — Diego Costa is close to completing a move to Chelsea. Reuters

The UEFA Champions League semifinal series between Chelsea and Atlético Madrid undoubtedly possesses loads of firepower. La Liga giants Atletico have one of the premier scorers on the planet in Diego Costa while Barclays Premier League challenger Chelsea are led by a strong core of talent including Demba Ba, Fernando Torres and Samuel Eto’o, who continues to battle a knee injury. Despite the fact that his Blues trail Liverpool by five points for the top spot in the English League, Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho says he’s only focused on the Champions League, especially since a tough semifinal challenge lies ahead.

“Today and tomorrow and also Wednesday are Champions League days and if you want to speak about the Premier League you have 19 teams in England that you can speak with,” Mourinho said. Chelsea today and tomorrow is Champions League and we are only available to speak about Champions League. We are lucky to be involved in the Champions League, so we are lucky that in the next two days we don't think about the Premier League and what's happened and what is going to happen because now we only think about tomorrow. We always behave in relation to the situation and will be ready.”

While Mourinho prepares for an Atletico team capable of scoring in high volume thanks to the individual talent of Diego Costa, Los Rojiblancos boss Diego Simeone insists that his job will be equally difficult due to the impressive front line Jose Mourinho’s squad possesses. Recent reports have also suggested that Costa could join the Blues next season through a blockbuster summer transfer and even though Simeone would love his star scorer to remain in Spain, he’s not blind to the fact that big-name clubs with significant funding usually pursue top-level talents like Costa.

“I wouldn't be surprised at all if a financially powerful team was able to acquire a great player like Costa,” Simeone said this week when asked about Costa’s future and the upcoming showdown against Chelsea. “Why? Because Diego is different and he's at his very best. That being said, in my opinion, Ba, Fernando and Eto’o are great champions and they have proved hundreds of times in all the cups they’ve won -- Champions Leagues, World Cups and more -- they are huge talents.”