Atletico de Madrid vs SL Benfica preview - Tiago wary of threat posed by former club Benfica

Posted Tuesday, September 29, 2015 by PA

Atletico Madrid's Portuguese midfielder Tiago is relishing the opportunity to face his former team Benfica in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Both sides won their opening Group C games in the competition by 2-0 margins, with Benfica beating Astana and Atletico prevailing at Galatasaray.

"It's obvious that for me, this game holds a special significance," Tiago said on his club's official website. "Whenever I go back to Portugal, people still treat me as the Tiago that played for Benfica.

"I see Benfica at the same level as I left them because a big club doesn't change much.

"They are still a complicated opponent, they are the Portuguese champions.

"We were able to win on the road in our opening group game and now we need to win at the Vicente Calderon stadium to hold onto top spot in the standings."

The absence of Argentinian winger Eduardo Salvio, who underwent knee surgery earlier this month and will be sidelined until next year, is a blow for Benfica.

"Salvio is an important player and it's a big loss for Benfica," Tiago said. "But Benfica are still a great rival and has the same points as we do.

"We just need to win this game."

Atletico have history on their side as they have won 21 and lost just one of their 24 European home encounters.

Not since falling 2-0 to Rubin Kazan in February 2013 have Atletico suffered defeat at home in European competition.

The hosts go into the encounter on the back of Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Villarreal.

The setback was the Rojiblancos' second of the campaign and dropped them to fifth in the standings, four points adrift of league leaders Villarreal.

Benfica warmed up for the encounter with Saturday's 3-0 home win over Pacos Ferreira.

The Aguias are third in the domestic standings, two points adrift of leaders FC Porto.

"We could have scored many more goals," Benfica coach Rui Vitoria said to Abola.pt. "We deserved the win and we played well.

"We have to give continuity to this result."

Mexican striker Raul Jimenez is expected to start for Benfica against his former club.

Jimenez joined the Portuguese champions this summer just one season after moving to Atletico.

Rui Vitoria has left Moroccan winger Adel Taarabt out of the squad for technical reasons.

Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is expected to hand Jackson Martinez a start on Wednesday.

The Colombian international, who joined Atletico in a B#24.5m transfer from FC Porto this summer, has just one goal in seven games for the Rojiblancos.

The 28-year-old forward scored 92 goals in his last three seasons at Porto.

The hosts are without midfielder Koke, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury and is fighting against the clock to recover in time for Sunday's league derby against Real Madrid.