The return of Antoine Griezmann and the impressive performance at the Metropolitano appear as the two strongest reasons for Atlético Madrid to believe in a comeback in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against the powerhouse Inter, considering the form of Lautaro Martínez and the history.

Only once in twelve occasions has the Italian team lost a tie they won in the first leg on their turf by 1-0, as they did last February 20th when they hosted Diego Simeone's team at San Siro. In just four out of 46 instances did the 'neroazurro' side bid farewell to a European tournament when they won on their home turf, regardless of the scoreline.

Not just history, nor simply the 1-0 from the first leg, with Marko Arnautovic's goal, who will be absent in Wednesday's return in the Spanish capital, favors Inter. Their present also does: the Serie A leaders and future champions, with a 16-point lead over Milan, have lost only two of their 38 matches this season.

And none as visitors. Out of their 18 away games from San Siro, they won 14 and drew four, two of them precisely in the Champions League group stage, when they drew level with Real Sociedad (1-1) or against Benfica after being 3-0 down at halftime. They have won each of their last 13 official matches, whether at home or away.

Since facing Atlético Madrid at San Siro, Inter has been unstoppable. They have won four games, scoring eleven goals and conceding only one. Out of those eleven goals, three were scored by Argentine Lautaro Martínez, the standout player for the 'nerazzurri', who will be fully rested for the match having not played a single minute in the last league game against Bologna, just like Frenchman Benjamin Pavard and Italian Federico Dimarco, undisputed starters.

A perfectly managed approach by Italian Simone Inzaghi, who, leveraging the great Inter project with the longest squad in Italian football and their significant lead in the domestic championship, 16 points ahead of Juventus, can afford to rotate with ease, keeping the majority of players active.

But not even all those statistics guarantee them anything at the Metropolitano, the most fearsome venue in Europe until not long ago. Also where Atlético transforms into a resolute, intense, and ambitious team. It's where they express themselves most emphatically. There, they feel capable of anything. Perhaps, of a comeback.

They have won 28 out of their last 31 official matches there, with two draws (both against Getafe) and just one defeat against Athletic Club (0-1) on February 7th, although they deserved at least a draw or even more.  They have also won their last three matches at home in the Champions League: 3-2 against Feyenoord, 6-0 against Celtic, 2-0 against Lazio.

Simeone: "Lautaro is Among the Best Forwards in Europe"

This Wednesday, the stadium will be packed, even though Atlético's current sequence does not invite optimism or anything similar. Neither their embarrassing defeat at Cádiz last Saturday; nor their mere five points in the last nine LaLiga EA Sports away games; nor the elimination two weeks ago in the Copa del Rey; nor the 1-0 at San Siro... But everything happened away from home.

At the Metropolitano, it's a different story. Atlético clings to that, as they welcome back their figurehead, their standout player, their hope in such a crucial match: Antoine Griezmann, who has missed the last four games due to a moderate right ankle sprain, from which he has recovered just in time to lead the challenge against Inter.

Atlético needs it. Also, a reunion with their best version and the recovery of their individuals to strengthen a team currently under persistent doubt. They long for goals from Álvaro Morata, twenty this season, but only one in the last ten; the reaction from Rodrigo de Paul or Koke Resurrección, whose drop in form is evident; the speed, arrival, and strength of Marcos Llorente; defensive solidity; saves and the unbeatability of Jan Oblak... all for an afternoon of glory at home.