Diego Godin pays respect to AC Milan

Atletico Madrid defender Diego Godin has insisted that AC Milan are still "a big club", despite their struggles this season.

The Italian outfit enter their last-16 Champions League tie with Atletico languishing in ninth spot in Serie A, but Godin is taking nothing for granted.

"It's true that Milan, in recent years, have not been at their best, but they are still a big club with many titles and with a tremendous fan base and great players who can disrupt a game and make the difference," he told Atletico's official website.

"I'm very excited and happy to be playing in the Champions League again, because we have a very great and important game ahead of us. We always expect the best from our opponents, it will be a wonderful and exciting game."

Milan and Atletico have never met in a competitive match.