- Chelsea take on Atletico Madrid at home in the Champions League on Tuesday
- Diego Costa sealed a return to Atletico from Chelsea back in September
- Costa watched on from the stands as Chelsea beat Atletico 2-1 in September
- Diego Simeone wants to avoid any sideshows as his side travel to London
Diego Costa has dodged a return to Stamford Bridge after it was decided he would not travel with the Atletico Madrid team that will face Chelsea in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
Costa angered Chelsea last summer as he refused to return from his Brazilian hometown of Lagarto after manager Antonio Conte informed him via text message that he would not form part of his plans for this season.
Costa was fined over a month’s worth of wages by Chelsea and in an interview with Sportsmail, he accused the club of treating him like a criminal. Costa eventually sealed a return to Atletico in September in a £57m transfer.
Diego Costa trains with his Atletico Madrid team-mates on Monday ahead of the Chelsea clash
Diego Simeone’s Atletico side take on Chelsea away in the Champions League on Tuesday
Simeone oversaw training on Monday in the chilling conditions in the Spanish capital
Costa watched on from the stands as Chelsea beat Atletico 2-1 in September but Diego Simeone wants to avoid any sideshows as his club travel to London for a crucial Champions League game. He is unable to play until January due to the restrictions of Atletico Madrid’s FIFA transfer ban.
Costa will not travel with team to London and will instead build up his fitness in Madrid.
Atletico need to beat Chelsea and hope Roma fail to beat Qarabag if they are to progress to the knock-out stages of the competition. Chelsea need to win to guarantee top spot in the group.
France star Antoine Griezmann will be hoping to put Chelsea to the sword at Stamford Bridge
Atletico need to win and hope Roma fail to beat Qarabag if they are to progress in competition
The mood in the Atletico camp was high as they prepared to head to the English capital