It is nights such as these at Stamford Bridge, when a strong Atletico Madrid stand in the way of a Champions League quarter-final place, that Chelsea’s fans really miss. The dimmed lights, vital pulse pumping over the sound system, then Handel’s anthem ringing round the exuberant, expectant stands, ready to hail a new hero to the rafters.

The disciplined first-leg performance in Bucharest even encouraged dreams of a speedy return to the final with the Blues for Thomas Tuchel, who made it there last year with Paris Saint-Germain.

This season Chelsea inflicted a ‘home’ defeat in a two-legged tie on Atletico coach Diego Simeone for the first time ever, and no club has beaten the current Liga leaders more times in Europe’s elite competition than the 2012 champions. Oli Giroud’s spectacular winner also brought the club’s first away win in the Champions League knockout since that unforgettable campaign nine years ago.

Three past meetings with the Mattress-makers at the Bridge have produced an even spread: one win, one draw, one defeat apiece. While Chelsea will work for a fourth consecutive clean sheet against Spanish sides this season, anything but a defeat is enough to book the Blues’ passage into the last eight.

Chelsea team news

Including the first leg victory in Bucharest, Thomas Tuchel is unbeaten in five encounters with Spanish teams as a coach. Tammy Abraham’s lingering ankle problem appears to hand the Bavarian the choice upfront of whether to continue with Kai Havertz, who has had no luck with goals but led the line with dynamism at Leeds, opt for Timo Werner or return to first-leg hero Olivier Giroud, now Chelsea’s third-highest European marksman (18 goals) behind Frank Lampard (25) and Didier Drogba (36).

The Frenchman’s astute reaction and technical prowess delivered a spectacular overhead winner in Romania, and he is averaging a goal every 38 minutes in the Champions League this season. That is the best ratio in the competition since Ajax’s Ton Blanker netted a goal every 34 minutes in 1979/80. He is also the first Chelsea man to grab half-a-dozen goals in a Champions League campaign since Didier Drogba in 2011/12.

The goal came in Atletico’s best spell of the game, which is always dispiriting, and the three-and-a-half minute wait for a VAR verdict seemed to embed the impact. The win was fully justified, though, after a focused, intelligent Blues performance.

The Londoners attempted to create space to play the ball in behind the Atletico’s deep-lying defence by switching flanks with it, drawing them out, and looking to thread the ball forward after dispossessing or dribbling past the hosts.

Mason Mount dropped deeper to initiate the press in midfield, while Marcos Alonso and Callum Hudson-Odoi remained high upfield. Centre-backs joined the midfield to stretch the hosts’ structure, a feature of recent games under the Bavarian coach.

Mount and Jorginho are suspended this evening and Mateo Kovacic was rested at the weekend with that in mind. However, N’Golo Kante and Hakim Ziyech each set up three chances at Leeds, and in Bucharest their second-half introduction offered fluidity and incisive passing that the Rojiblancos, pushing for an equaliser, struggled to contain. Kovacic and Ziyech are both one yellow away from a one-game ban.

Diego Simeone, meanwhile, had identified the space between the Blues’ wing-backs and centre-backs as a weakness, but with little productivity. The Red-and-Whites did not manage a single shot on target meaning Edouard Mendy had at that stage the most Champions League clean sheets of any keeper this season. Man City’s Ederson is now one ahead having played a game more. Tuchel’s Blues have managed shutouts in 10 of the past 12 games across all competitions to date.

Chelsea’s goal difference over the competition so far is +14, the third-best behind Bayern and Manchester City. Atletico’s is -2, the second lowest among Round of 16 clubs.

Simeone’s scheming

Atletico Madrid’s key men - winger Diego Carrasco, centre-back Jose Gimenez and former Spurs right-back Kieran Trippier have all returned to action since Chelsea’s first leg victory. Their availability allowed head coach Diego Simeone to switch from the 3-4-2-1 used in Romania to his preferred 4-1-4-1 set-up at Getafe on Saturday.

Atletico were less bullish than some expected in the first leg, reverting to the dogged 6-3-1 of old for long periods, ceding territory and shackling chance-creators such as Mount, Werner and Hudson-Odoi. Under intense pressure from the Blues, the Mattress-Makers misplaced a number of passes and seemed stuck between the impulse to break forward quickly and the need to maintain layers of defence.

Simeone appeared cautious of Chelsea’s rapidity and power, which regularly called Jan Oblak into action. The only goal also came after Atletico were dispossessed during a rare foray forward, and less wastefulness by the Londoners in the final third would have put the tie beyond doubt.

Spain’s leading marksman Luis Suarez and partner Joao Felix were tightly shackled, and the Liga league leaders have managed five goals in the past six games across all competitions. Despite seven shots on target in their more adventurous guise at Getafe on Saturday, the Red-and-Whites were unable to break down the 10 men of Madrid’s ‘other’ club.

Even though his team must win to stand any chance of advancing, Chelsea’s minimal first leg advantage and threat on the break, coupled with the away goals rule, may mean Simeone initially sticks with an equally defence-minded approach in London.

How to watch Chelsea-Atletico

This match will be covered live by BT Sport in the UK. To find the relevant broadcaster where you are elsewhere, see UEFA’s TV guide.

Chelsea’s coverage, including Blues-centric analysis and interviews, can be found on the official website, YouTube channel and 5th Stand app before and after the match.

History on the side of the Blues?

Chelsea have won all 13 previous knockout ties in European competitions (including qualifiers) after winning the first leg away from home.

The drill tonight

The VAR system is in operation and five substitutes may be made during this match, which must be played to a conclusion. A win or draw will see Chelsea through. In the event of level aggregate scores after 90 minutes, the team with the most away goals will progress.

A 1-0 lead for Atletico is the only scoreline that would take the tie into extra-time and, if necessary, penalty kicks. Both teams have won two and lost four of their past six shoot-outs in Europe.

Next steps: the draws

For the teams that make it through, the draws for the quarter- and semi-final ties will take place on Friday in Nyon from 11am UK time. There are no seedlings and clubs can be drawn against rivals from their own country.

The last-eight games will take place over successive midweeks, 6/7 and 13/14 April, and the semis on 27/28 April and 4/5 May. The final is on Saturday 29 May at Istanbul’s Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

La Liga clubs losing out

Two of Spain’s other three Round of 16 representatives have already been eliminated. Sevilla drew their second leg 2-2 at Dortmund but the Germans went through 5-4 on aggregate, while Barcelona were unable to turn around a 4-1 home loss to PSG in the first leg, bowing out 5-2. Yesterday Real Madrid progressed with a 3-1 win at home to Atalanta (4-1 on agg.).

Alfonso at the Bridge

Footballers are not the only Spanish ‘royalty’ to have visited Stamford Bridge. Just over a century ago, on 3 November 1919, King Alfonso XIII watched from a ‘royal box’ as Chelsea thrashed Bradford 4-0.

‘King Alfonso followed play with keen attention, and showed by his comments that he had a knowledge of the game,’ it was reported. ‘He called attention to the good-humoured way in which heavy charges were given and taken, and to the fact that there was no loss of temper, although the game was strenuous enough.

‘“Your spectators,” said his Majesty, “do not cheer only Chelsea. It is most creditable to them that when the visitors show clever play they also are cheered so much. It is a fine trait of British sportsmanship”.’

The matchday programme

A physical copy of the programme for tonight’s game, with all the usual popular features and exclusives, can be bought online for £3.50 plus postage.

Champions League round of 16 second leg results and fixtures

TuesdayMan City 2 Borussia Monchengladbach 0 (4-0 on agg.) Real Madrid 3 Atalanta 1 (4-1 on agg.)

WednesdayBayern Munich v Lazio (agg 4-1) 8pmChelsea v Atletico Madrid (agg 1-0) 8pm