Conte Mad for it

THE circus will be in town in Madrid this week and Chelsea will be hoping they do not end up as clowns.

They fly to the Spanish capital to take on Spain’s perennial overachievers Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in their brand new stadium.

They are just two games into playing at the 67,703 capacity Wanda Metropolitano after 51 years at the Vicente Calderon, where they never lost to an English side.

All eyes will be on striker Diego Costa after his protracted move from Chelsea to his former club Atletico.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte wants to consign that part of his spell at the club to the dustbin, anxious to move on.

He knows Costa’s appearance will be a free-for-all and the game almost secondary. Home fans will give him and Chelsea stick for their handling of a player who is a legend at the club.

Conte wants to build on the 6-0 thrashing of Qarabag to extend their lead at the top of Group C after Atletico drew in Italy with Roma.

But Atletico, unbeaten in La Liga this season, warmed up for Wednesday’s tie with a 2-0 home win against Sevilla yesterday.

A Chelsea spokesman said: “They’ve hardly played at their new stadium. They are still bedding down. We feel the time is right to change history.

“We see no reason why Diego might not be there. Why should he stay away? He is their player now.”

TONY STENSON