Liverpool have come a long way under Jurgen Klopp, there can be no disputing that, but their next European game will be another test for them to pass.
The Reds are among the favourites for the competition as a whole, so are expected to progress in the tournament and make the quarter-finals at the very least, but it will be by no means a simple task.
On the latest edition of the Allez Les Rouges podcast on the Blood Red channel, talk turned to the tie and how in many ways, it will be another marker of the extent of the progress the Reds have made over the last few months.
Host Peter Hooton said: "It's going to be a tough game but they haven't been doing too well. They've got injuries as well.
"They can do a defensive job and they'll be thinking 0-0 is a good result."
Over the last couple of seasons under Klopp, Liverpool have shown themselves to be a far more streetwise side, too; where once they were frustrated by teams who sat in deep and defended, they now have better options to work around that.
And with teams who attempt the dark arts to slow the game down and limit their attacking prowess, the Reds are far more well-equipped to beat them too.
Panelist John Nicolson added: "Atletico, particularly with their manager Simeone, they are good at the dark arts.
"They're good at being able to win fouls against you, to get away with fouling you, to influence the referee. There's plenty of that.
"But we do seem to be better with that these days than we were a couple of years ago."
The tie will be a difficult one for the Reds to get through in, but as European champions, they are expected to find a way to get into the draw for the final eight, which will take place on Friday, March 20.
Hooton concluded: "We were all thinking this was one of the harder draws.
"Since the draw, Atletico haven't been great, but La Liga form goes out of the window - it means nothing in the Champions League."
And on the latest Blood Red podcast, recorded just outside the Wanda Metropolitano, the panel discussed the game - and how much it will mean to Simeone to take on Klopp once again, proving too how much the Reds have progressed.
If their last meeting - a friendly match in the Audi Cup in pre-season during the summer of 2017 - is anything to go by, it could be a tasty encounter.
Ian Doyle recalled: "Simeone will love to test himself against Klopp.
"Klopp wasn't very happy after the 2017 game with the way that Atletico treated it.
"It was like it was a massively competitive match.
"That's what Simeone teams are like in friendlies so you can imagine what it's going to be like tomorrow night - they'll be massively up for it."
