5 of the best defenders to have played for Juventus or Atletico Madrid
Juventus and Atletico Madrid are two of the toughest teams in the top-5 European leagues, to score against, thanks to their well-drilled defensive machinery complementing a potent attack.
They may not be the two most attractive teams to watch, but more often than not they get the job done by churning out results with their defensive discipline and resilience.
Against the backdrop of their similar defensive philosophy, it was a refreshing surprise that the Matchday 1 clash between the duo at the Wanda Metropolitano ended in a high scoring draw. That was an aberration in the pair's Champions League rivalry, as it marked the first time in five games that the away side scored and almost returned with a win (Juventus led by two goals before Atletico fought back to force a share of the spoils).
On the cusp of Italian champions Juventus welcoming Atletico to the Juventus Stadium on matchday 5 of the UEFA Champions League, let us have a look at the 5 best defenders to have worn the jersey of either club:
#5 Miranda (Atletico Madrid)
João Miranda de Souza Filho became a defender by accident. The shy six-year-old boy from the Brazilian countryside of Paranavaí decided to become a defender to follow in the footsteps of his 12-year-old brother Vicente, who died in a workside accident.
Beset by the loss of his father when he was 19, Miranda left Brazilian shores for Ligue 1 side Sochaux before returning to his country of birth. There he played for Sau Paulo for five years before joining Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011.
After scoring a superb goal in the 2012-13 Copa Del Rey final against Real Madrid, which ended Atletico's 14-game run without a win against their trans-city rivals, Miranda was at the peak of his powers the following season. His formidable defensive partnership with club legend Diego Godin led Atletico to a league title and the Champions League final (lost to Real Madrid).
The Brazilian is known for his strong passing ability, and is a threat from set-pieces. With 178 appearances in all competitions, Miranda is Atletico's sixth most prolific goal-scoring defender.
Also check out:La Liga La liga table 2019-20 Champions League table