Chelsea and bitter rivals Atletico go head to head
Conte’s side face club at centre of Costa dispute Tottenham drawn with Real in ‘group of death’
Chelsea’s bitter fall-out with Atletico Madrid will be tested again after the Blues were drawn in the same Champions League group as the club to which Diego Costa is attempting to force a return.
The Premier League champions will face Atletico, Roma and FK Qarabag in a tough Group C, but it is Tottenham Hotspur who have landed in the dreaded ‘group of death’ against European champions Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund and Apoel Nicosia.
Manchester United have been handed the most favourable draw of the English clubs, while Manchester City and Liverpool will also be optimistic. the loan arrangement that would have meant Atletico had to pay around £5million to field Courtois against them, but it was overruled by Uefa. Atletico knocked out Chelsea, with Courtois playing both legs, to reach the final.
Costa signed for Chelsea in that summer, but they have since been upset by Atletico’s repeated public attempts to take him back.
Chelsea have written to the Spanish club on two separate occasions threatening to report them to Fifa over public comments made by club officials over their desire to re-sign Costa. Stamford Bridge officials believe Atletico have contributed to Costa never fully settling at Chelsea.
Atletico have been far more guarded in their pursuit of Costa this year, but that will do nothing to ease the tensions between themselves and Chelsea when they meet twice in the group stages.
Chelsea have won just one of their five games against Atletico in European competition and also face a tricky test against Roma. Conte’s team must also make a 5½hour flight to take on Azerbaijan’s Qarabag.
Having failed to reach the knockout stages of the Champions League last season, Tottenham’s hopes of a favourable draw were dashed.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team will have to face Real, who last season became the first team to successfully defend the Champions League, and 2013 finalists Dortmund. Apoel finish Group H, which means a 4½-hour flight to Cyprus.
Tottenham’s Eric Dier said: “It’s a very exciting group, that’s what the Champions League is all about. It’s about pitting yourself against the best teams in Europe. It’s fantastic for our fans, a really exciting group and we’re all looking forward to it.”
Although United have to travel to Moscow, Mourinho will be the happiest of the Premier League managers after his team drew Benfica, Basel and CSKA on their return to the Champions League.
City’s toughest test will come against Napoli, but Pep Guardiola’s team will be expected to progress from Group F, which also includes Shakhtar and Feyenoord.
Liverpool, who qualified after beating Hoffenheim 6-3 on aggregate on Wednesday, have been drawn with Sevilla, who beat them in the final of the Europa League in 2016. Spartak Moscow and Maribor make up the group.