Luis Suárez and a negative Champions League record

"Possibly it is the right day for Luis to cut that streak. Why not? It could be a very nice day", Simeone reasoned optimistically yesterday about Suárez's drought in Europe, illogical considering the general numbers of the Uruguayan. The 9 has not scored as a visitor in the Champions League since September 2015.

It was in Rome, on the first day of that group stage, and since then, nothing at all. He has already accumulated 2,124 minutes without seeing a goal in the last 24 away games, the worst streak of any center forward in the competition, as Mister Chip recalls. However, that streak may be without effect, in the commitment against Chelsea, for the second leg of the round of 16.

In this five years that have passed, he has indeed scored once away from home. It was in 2-8 against Bayern of sad memory for Suárez, in Lisbon, neutral ground of the one-game tie. In other words, his visiting drought is being tested today at Stamford Bridge. The ideal night to close it. Simeone is confident that he will put an end to this curse and Atlético need his goals in the Champions League more than ever.

Because Luis Suárez, who flirts with the top scorer in the league (18 goals), has not yet made his Atleti debut in Europe. With Ajax he achieved five, with Barça, 25 and tonight the first is expected with Atletico Madrid. "He is a forward with a lot of hierarchy and weight", Diego Simeone said yesterday, just as he said in the first leg.

The compliments that also come from the rival

Confidence is maximum, like respect from the rival. "He is one of the best in the world and he has shown it in all the teams he has been in. He fights every ball and it is very hard to defend him", Antonio Rüdiger, Chelsea´s center back, analyzed yesterday, with whom Suarez had his pluses and minuses in Bucharest. But the Charrúa, of course, neither wrinkled nor will it tonight. It only remains to wait, in what will undoubtedly be a game full of emotions.