Atletico Madrid will look to make its mark in the Champions League when it takes on Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday.
Los Colchoneros enter the match with a tremendous amount of confidence after winning their first four games of the Spanish League. The team was expected to decline this season with the departure of Radamel Falcao, but the opposite effect has occurred as the team has actually looked more dangerous at times with his replacement David Villa.
The match will be the first Champions League appearance of the highly touted goalie Thibaut Courtois. The netminder recently revealed that he always dreamed of playing in the competition.
"I have wanted to play in the Champions League since I was young and I am especially enthusiastic to play in this competition with Atletico," Courtois said, according to 7M Sports.
"We always want to try and win more, but at the same time we know we have to try and remain humble," he added, Sport Keeda reported. "I have come a long way and I hope to continue improving at the club."
Zenit St. Petersburg will be opening its second straight Champions League against a Spanish club. Last year the team was taken down 3-0 by a surprising Malaga side. They will hope to avoid a similar fate this season despite entering the contest as solid underdogs. The team currently sits in second place in the Russian League.
Prediction: Madrid will pull off a 3-1 win.
Start Time: 2:45 p.m. EST
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