5 Reasons Why Facing Atletico Was the Toughest UCL Draw Chelsea Could Have Faced

Chelsea avoided Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final draw on Friday, but they must still face Atletico Madrid as they bid to reach a second final in three seasons.

Real and Bayern may come with the aura of history behind them, but in the here and now, Atletico couldn't have been a tougher draw for Jose Mourinho and his players.

Sitting top of La Liga, Atleti have already taken the scalp of Barcelona in this season's Champions League and are looking a good bet to go all the way in the competition.

Diego Simeone's side is full of talented individuals who will pose a considerable threat to the Blues, not to mention the manager himself who has moulded this team into one capable of challenging for major honors.

In many ways, facing Atletico in the semi-final is as difficult as it comes.

Bleacher Report brings you five reasons why.

Momentum

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

After defeating Barcelona to reach the Champions League semi-final, Atletico Madrid players and fans will be forgiven if they're thinking their name could very well be on the trophy this season.

It's the first time in over 40 years the club has gone this far in Europe's elite comepetition—a factor itself that will breed confidence in Diego Simeone and his team.

Atletico will feel they're on the brink of making history. They have the momentum with them and when that feeling spreads, it can breed a powerful sense of belief.

Any doubters need only look to Chelsea's 2012 succcess. The circumstances were somewhat different, but when the Blues overturned a two-goal from the first leg of the last-16 tie with Napoli, the belief grew and their campaign gathered momentum.

Coincidentally, Chelsea defeated Barca themselves en route to the final.

Atletico's Strikers

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Diego Costa has scored seven goals in six Champions League appearances this season.

The Brazilian-cum-Spanish international has been in incredible form, but if Chelsea think Atletico Madrid's attacking options end with him, they will be borderline deluded.

This Atletico side carries a considerable threat with or without their talisman, as Barcelona found to their detriment this week.

Adrian Lopez and David Villa have scored just once between them in Europe this term, but it's more what they do without the ball that causes opponents problems.

The duo's movement creates pockets in the back line, often exploited by Diego Costa or a midfield teammate this season.

They are comfortable and adventurous in possession, too, so if Chelsea are to come out on top, they will need all their nous to contain the Atleti forwards.

Further back in midfield, Raul Garcia's four goals in Europe will also be a concern.

Complacency

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Call it complacency or just a bad day at the office—if Chelsea put in another performance similar to their away leg against Paris Saint-Germain, they will kiss goodbye to their Champions League hopes for another season.

Atletico Madrid will punish the Blues for any lapse in concentration, meaning moments like Javier Pastore's last-minute goal at Parc des Princes will be the death knell.

The Blues gave themselves a monumental challenge to overturn the 3-1 defeat from their first leg in the quarter-final, which they did, but they cannot take another gamble.

Mourinho's players may have breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Bayern Munich and Real Madrid paired together in the semi-final draw.

Their manager needs to ensure that doesn't turn to complacency, however.

Chelsea have shown this season that, in games when they are expected to come out victorious, they have found things a little harder to overcome.

That's not to say they are favorites to progress to the final, but without the threat of Real and Bayern, there's a danger the Blues may well feel the job is half done already.

Team Spirit

Paul White

Chelsea have rightly been applauded for the spirit they showed against Paris Saint-Germian in the quarter-final, clawing their way back from 3-1 to progress after a 2-0 victory at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues' performance was full of guts and character—something PSG simply couldn't match.

When they face Atletico Madrid, Chelsea will come up against a team with the same qualities.

Much like their manager, Diego Simeone, Atletico are a side with a bulldog spirit. They battle for everything and harass their opponents until the very last minute.

Atleti themselves had to show that fighting spirit against Barcelona in their own quarter-final battle. As the clock ticked own at the Vicente Calderon Stadium on Wednesday, Simeone's men had to dig in to deny Barca.

Chelsea must prepare themselves for a battle.

Diego Simeone

Andres Kudacki

The Atletico Madrid manager may not come with the same glamorous appeal as the other managers who remain in the Champions League, but don't let that fool you.

Carlo Ancelotti, Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho all have the opportunity of lifting the trophy for a third time this season, equaling Bob Paisley's record he set with Liverpool in the 1970s and 1980s.

To date, Simeone has lifted just the Europa League, Super Cup and Copa del Rey.

The Argentinian has transformed Atletico's fortunes, however, introducing an exciting brand of football that has seen top La Liga.

The club has been thrust firmly under the spotlight during his three seasons in charge and they continue to develop into one of Europe's most exciting teams.

He's a manager who shouldn't be undervalued.

Sure, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich come with the profile, but Simeone's Atleti are rewriting people's perceptions.

By comparison, Atletico are an unknown quantity at this level, yet it doesn't mean they should be disregarded.

Jose Mourinho and Chelsea will write them off at their own peril.

Garry Hayes is Bleacher Report's lead Chelsea correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here @garryhayes