RB Leipzig captain Willi Orban is not worried about the possible febrile atmosphere in their first Champions League game of the new season at Atletico Madrid on Thursday.
“We already have a lot of experience in the team, a lot of experienced players, last season we also played well at Real Madrid,” the Hungary international told a news conference on Wednesday.
“We want to enjoy it here and the atmosphere can also spur us on a bit. It can push you to put on a top performance. That’s why we see the heated atmosphere in a positive light.”
The first week of the new Champions League format is being spread over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Orban was part of the squad for the only meeting with Atletico so far, which the Germans won 2-1 in 2020.
He was absent last Saturday in the Bundesliga match at home to Union Berlin (0-0) due to suspension. But Orban will go straight back into the starting line-up in Madrid.
“He’s our captain, of course he’ll play,” confirmed coach Marco Rose.
“We expect emotionality from Atletico – an emotional coach, an emotional team. But it’s also an individually strong and tactically good team that has always defended well.”