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Atlético stars head back to England

Club Atlético de Madrid boast a wealth of experience of the English Premier League as they visit Bolton Wanderers FC in the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

Luis García starred for Liverpool
Luis García starred for Liverpool ©Getty Images

Club Atlético de Madrid boast a wealth of experience of English football as they visit Bolton Wanderers FC in the UEFA Cup Round of 32.

• Four Atlético players will be looking to make a good impression as they return to England. Midfielder Luis García played for Liverpool FC between 2004 and 2007, winning the 2004/05 UEFA Champions League, while forward José Antonio Reyes was at Arsenal FC during the same period.

• Portuguese midfielder Maniche spent time on loan at Chelsea FC during their title-winning 2005/06 campaign while Uruguayan striker Diego Forlán was at Manchester United FC between 2002 and 2004, winning the 2002/03 Premier League before becoming a regular starter at Villarreal CF.

• For their part, Bolton have two Spanish players who will be hungry for action, one of whom represented Atlético's local rivals Real Madrid CF.

• Defender Iván Campo was at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium between 1998 and 2002, winning the UEFA Champions League in 1999/00 and 2001/02 and the Spanish title in 2000/01.

• Midfielder Mikel Alonso, meanwhile, played for Real Sociedad de Fútbol before joining Bolton.

• Bolton qualified for the Round of 32 by finishing third in Group F. Atlético came top of Group B.

• The two sides have never met in UEFA club competition.

• Bolton met Atlético's Primera División rivals Sevilla FC in the 2005/06 UEFA Cup group stage, drawing 1-1 at home. That was their only previous game against a Spanish side.

• Atlético have considerable more experience against Premier League opponents, having played eleven games against English sides over the years, winning five, drawing four and losing two. Their five games on English soil ended in a win, three draws and a defeat.

• Bolton have yet to lose a home game in European competition, although four of their seven UEFA club competition home matches have ended in draws.

• Atlético are unbeaten in all four of their European away games this season, having won three and drawn one.

• Atlético host the second leg in Madrid on 21 February. The aggregate winners will meet the victors of the tie between Sporting Clube de Portugal and FC Basel 1893 in the Round of 16 on 6 and 12/13 March, playing the first leg at home.

• Winter UEFA Cup registrations
Bolton: In - Iván Campo, Matthew Taylor, Gary Cahill.
Out – Nicolas Anelka, Gerald Cid, Ľubomír Michalík, Christian Wilhelmsson, Gary Speed, Przemysław Kazimierczak.
Atlético: In - Juan Valera.
Out – Maniche.

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