AC Milan vs Atletico Madrid: 3 crucial battles that will decide the outcome

While most of the Champions League talk surrounds the matches involving English clubs, there is business elsewhere to be done in the Champions League this week, with AC Milan’s clash with Atletico Madrid bound to whet the appetite still further.

Milan’s decline is a story almost as remarkable as Atletico Madrid’s rise to disrupt the La Liga hegemony and for this entirely contrasting duo to be pitted against one another offers a narrative filed under ‘football purists’.

The chance to see ageing stars versus the new kids on the block is another appealing facet to a tie which has gone under the radar amongst the hysteria over face-offs such as Manchester City v Barcelona and Arsenal v Bayern Munich.

Ahead of Wednesday’s first leg at the San Siro, here are the three potential battles which could help swing the tie in either side’s favour ahead of the return leg in Madrid.

Mario Balotelli v Diego Costa

Balotelli crucial to Milan’s chances

The enigma takes on the enchanting as the former Manchester City striker, fresh off the back of a wonder goal at the weekend is tasked with finding a way through La Liga’s sternest defence.

But he faces equally tough competition in usurping a man at the other end of the field, who has been the star attraction of Atleti’s campaign.

Costa has struck a remarkable 21 goals from 24 league matches this season to keep his side on the coattails of Barca and Real Madrid and his Champions League form has been just as impressive.

Despite missing three of his side’s six matches, he has still managed four goals in three matches, at a rate of 1.3 goals per appearance and all from just 12 shots, resulting in a goal from every three efforts on goal.

It works out at a shooting accuracy of 83%, the best from the Spanish outfit’s squad, bar the slight anomaly of Adrian Lopez, who has only had three shots, with each hitting the target.

Costa also fits into his side’s inherently Spanish way by posting a 75% passing accuracy, something which has aided him in crafting three chances in total, one per match of course, for his team-mates including an assist.

Five key contributions in three games is nothing to be sniffed at but Costa surprisingly struggles in his average duels won having amassed just a 49% success rate which encompasses a 14% headed duel success, a staggering statistic given the sheer stature of the recently-pledged Spain international.

Balotelli, by comparison, wins 36% of duels in the air but his average of 55% is balanced out by his ability to draw a foul (70%) and his take on success of 52%.

The Italian international has also created four openings for team-mates, but does not fare as well as Costa in any of the other areas of forward play, something that could prove important in what is likely to be a tight affair.

Miranda v Christian Zapata

Miranda key to Atletico’s solidity

The two central defenders have both provided a platform for the more illustrious members of their respective sides to weave magic further upfield.

But neither man has rested on their defensive laurels this season, with Miranda’s key role underlined by his goalscoring prowess from centre back, having scored twice in the Champions League campaign. A stat made all the more pertinent by the fact he attempted just three efforts on goal, with two finding the back of the net.

Miranda started all six of his side’s matches in the group stage phase helping to keep three clean sheets in the process with his rugged, no-nonsense approach to defending.

His nine average defensive actions per match is bettered only by the precocious Javier Manquillo (11) and Toby Alderweireld (13), while his 54% of average duels won falls mainly down to his tackling success of 58%.

Zapata is similar in defensive approach, relishing the idea of nipping in and robbing a striker and is also adept in the air, with a 47% success rate marginally shading Miranda’s 44%.

Like his defensive rival, Zapata has made nine defensive actions across his six appearances in the group stages but proved equally efficient in the opposition area, netting in the 3-0 win at Celtic.

His 53% duel success puts him fourth in the standing for this particular area, with Balotelli’s tally of 55% looking increasingly important to this Milan side when you consider only Mattia De Sciglio and Philippe Mexes fare better.

This duel can be epitomised best in the gulf in performance score, however, with Miranda’s total of 233 highlighting the value of the Brazilian stopper and forcing the less experienced Zapata’s score of 131 into the background.

You suspect the Atletico man has more chance of coming out on top against the infuriatingly inconsistent Balotelli than the Colombian will have of dealing with Costa.

Raul Garcia v Nigel de Jong

Nigel De Jong needs to be on top of his game

An interesting battle, this, as Atleti’s goal-getter from midfield goes toe to toe with a man whose exit many believe cost Manchester City the title last season.

Dutchman de Jong is a specialist in the defensive midfield slot, looking to quell any runners from deep positions and release the ball to the more creative members of the Milan cast.

So he will have his hands full, then, with a man who was responsible for a fifth of his side’s overall tally in the group stages, having contributed three of the 15 Atletico managed.

A shooting accuracy of just 54% should take into account the fact Garcia hit the bar with two strikes and the base of the post with the other.

But to paint Garcia as some sort of midfield powerhouse detracts from his creative instincts and, having provided three assists in addition to his goalscoring talents, Garcia could be key in supplying the ammunition for Costa.

But first, he must uncover a way past de Jong, who will match him stride for stride in the engine room.

No other midfielder has completed more defensive actions than de Jong, with Kevin Constant and Riccardo Montolivo also posting the same figure.

His average duels success of 41% is impacted on by his frequent indiscretions, having committed 16 fouls in this season’s competition but his tackling reads well overall, winning 10 out of 21 attempted.

His 87% passing is influenced by his position at the base of the midfield, but it speaks volumes that only Cristian Zaccardo and Robinho have been more successful, having made less passes than the former City man, an area of his play which has helped yield two chances created.

He may not be the man that wins Milan this contest, but he could be the one to prevent them from losing it, as Garcia and Costa look to wreak havoc.