24.02.2015 17:38 h

Leverkusen aim to bounce back against Atletico

Roger Schmidt has called on underdogs Bayer Leverkusen to brush off recent results when they host 2014 finalists Atletico Madrid in Wednesday's Champions League last 16, first-leg, clash.

Leverkusen are winless in their last three games after conceding a late equaliser in Saturday's 2-2 draw at Augsburg following back-to-back Bundesliga defeats to Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg.

They face an up-hill challenge to contain Atletico's goal-scoring duo of Mario Mandzukic and Antoine Griezmann, who have 37 goals between them already this season.

Defending Spanish league champions Atletico are currently third in La Liga and hammered Real 4-0 in the Madrid derby a fortnight ago.

Leverkusen have never won a last-16 tie in the current format.

They have been humiliated by Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain at the same stage of the competition in recent years and Schmidt is under pressure to avoid any repeat.

"No one in Spain likes to play against them, even Real Madrid," said Leverkusen coach Schmidt in Tuesday's press conference.

"When you play the 2014 finalists, we have to see ourselves as outsiders, but it's two games and it doesn't matter what the statistics say.

"We have to show we are able to give a team like this a few problems and showed in the group stages at home that we can make life difficult for any team.

"Atletico are a tough side, they have had an unbelievable year, but I am optimistic we will have our chances. It will be an intensive game.

"We want to show our fans from the very first minute that we have a chance."

Schmidt admits his side will have their work cut out containing the aerial prowess of ex-Bayern Munich striker Mandzukic, who has netted 20 times this season.

"Mandzukic is good in the air, so we have to defend crosses well, but we have also experienced this in the Bundesliga," said Schmidt.

"Atletico are good at winning the second-ball. We've dealt with this before but tomorrow night it will be at a higher level."

But Leverkusen's South Korea striker Son Heung-Min is relishing the chance to show what his side can do against last season's finalists.

"Atletico are a very good side, but we are excited to see what we can achieve in the Champions League," said Son, who scored a hat-trick against Wolfsburg ten days ago.

"We're all motivated to win this game.

"We just have to focus on our game and put in our best performance. We're at home, which is an advantage.

"Atletico like to counter-attack, so we have to be careful, not just think about going forward.

"We have to be cautious, but this is a chance to show what we can do."