Surprise winners of the Premier League last year Leicester City – despite 5000:1 odds – have been impressive in the UEFA Champions League.

They have shocked everyone by making the last eight of the elite competition in Europe. They now have to contend with Spanish side Atletico Madrid for a chance to go further. However, this time not a lot of people are writing them off.

They would be facing a similar side in Diego Simeone’s men: teams that used optimism and determination to progress. Both sides preferto defend the ball to the last while catching their opponents off guard on counter attacks. In addition, both sides have met in Europe in times past.

Five decades ago, the sides met for the first time. Leicester lost out to Spurs so they played in the defunct Cup Winners’ Cup. The Spanish side won the current day equivalent of Copa del Rey. Leicester City had seen off Northern Ireland’s Glevavon while Atletico defeated France’s Sedan in the preliminaries to set up a first round clash. Atletico were the eventual winners after two legs.

Kasey Keller from the talented age of US keepers including Brad Friedel was in goal; Pontus Kamark, Steve Walsh, Spencer Prior and Matt Elliott were in defence, Steve Guppy, Neil Lennon, Muzzy Izzet and Garry Parker were in the middle with Ian Marshall and Emile Heskey in attack in the team that played in two decades back.

When they met, it was in the same first round of the UEFA Cup. The English club lost out 4-1 on aggregate as Martin O’Neill led the team. Now it’s 2017, Jamie Vardy, Wilfred Ndidi, RiyadMahrez, Kasper Schmeichel and the rest are seeking their first victory over Atletico in their third meeting. Will they prevail over a resilient Atletico side?