Will Oblak or Neuer come out on top in tight Atletico-Bayern clash?
While packing all the prestige of Tuesday's clash between Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid, Wednesday's battle of La Liga and the Bundesliga between Atletico and Bayern promises to be a different prospect entirely. It's a meeting in which the visitors will be keen to exact revenge for their exit to Diego Simeone's men in the semi-finals of the Champions League last season.
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While there is attacking talent between the sides in abundance this, however, promises to be a duel of the defences. Atletico - despite adding a fair amount of flair in recent windows prior to their transfer ban - are after all still very much prided on defensive resilience and commitment, particularly in matches such as these. Simeone's French frontline of Griezmann and Gameiro may be the envy of most sides on the continent, but it's the back four that has again been so crucial to their unbeaten start to the season.
The fact that they are yet to taste defeat, though, somewhat masks an underwhelming campaign to now, only twice in six games scoring more than once. Indeed, Atletico have won three and drawn three in the league, conceding just twice, and needed a penalty stop from the outstanding Jan Oblak to edge past PSV in their Champions League opener.
The Slovenian is fast establishing himself as one of Neuer's greatest rivals in the best goalkeeper debate, and his manager would likely argue there is no debate to be had. There's certainly statistics to back up that argument. Indeed, since the start of last season Oblak's save success rate is the second best of all goalkeepers to make at least 20 appearances in Europe's top 5 leagues - 81.4%. That's only behind PSG's Kevin Trapp and just ahead of Neuer (78.7%) in fourth.
The former Benfica stopper looks likely to be the busier of the two keepers on Wednesday against a free scoring Bayern side able to rest key players at the weekend. Coming into the game - like the hosts - off the back of a narrow 1-0 win, Joshua Kimmich was the unlikely match winner and since scoring his first Bayern goal this month hasn't stopped, netting 4 in 4. The youngster may get the nod in midfield as a result, with Thiago more likely to drop out than Alonso or Vidal, who both set out from the start on Saturday.
Nevertheless, it is more likely to be a familiar face posing the visitors' greatest goal threat and while Robert Lewandowski's goal wasn't enough to tear up Atleti's ticket to the final on away goals earlier in the year, he is firing once more, with 6 in 6 so far. Elsewhere Renaissance man Franck Ribery is proving that he still has plenty to offer after a spell on the sidelines that many were beginning to feel he would never recover from.
Forced to retire from international football some time ago due to a back injury, the Frenchman looks back to his very best and has profited from a full pre-season. Ribery already has 2 goals and 5 assists to his name in the league - with another assist in the Champions League rout over Rostov - and the latter is the most in Europe's top 5 leagues so far.
His return to form in terms of goal contribution has been a welcome one given Thomas Muller's struggles in front of goal thus far. In fact, with no goals in four league outings, the Germans place could even come under threat from fit again Arjen Robben, who scored on his return from a six-month lay-off last week. It may be a little too soon for the Dutchman, but how the Bayern fans would love to see their famed 'Robbery' back in action, with the two named in the same starting XI just once since March 2015.
For the home support, their faith will more likely be focused in one place, hoping Antoine Griezmann can once again prove the match winner against Bayern. With 5 of Atleti's 11 league goals already this season, the Frenchman has become the leading light for this side, still standing out in terms of quality from a squad that certainly isn't lacking in that regard. Indeed, it's little surprise that the France international's team-high rating of 8.08 in La Liga is trailled closest by four Rojiblancos defenders - Filipe Luis (7.70), Sime Vrsaljko (7.62), Stevan Savic (7.48) and Diego Godin (7.43).
If Hummels - who was forced off at the weekend - isn't fit to start then the hosts will surely look to isolate their star striker against Javi Martinez rather than the infinitely more mobile Jerome Boateng. One individual battle could be crucial to coming out on top in this tight contest after all, though it could be the tale of two of the world's finest keepers in Madrid on Wednesday.
Who do you think will come out on top when Bayern travel to Madrid on Wednesday? Let us know in the comments below
