AC Milan forward Mario Balotelli has branded Atletico Madrid "a great team" ahead of their meeting in the last-16 stage of the Champions League on Wednesday.

Atletico travel to the San Siro level on points with Barcelona and Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, while they are yet to taste defeat in the Champions League this season.

"Atletico is doing really well in the Spanish championship. They are a great team," he told Marca.

"The tie is between Milan and Atletico [not between Diego Costa and Mario Balotelli]. Although Diego Costa seems like a very good player.

"Simeone was a great player and is a great coach. It is always an honour for a Coach to rate me. At the moment, I'm with Milan. I can't say much more."

Milan currently occupy ninth spot in Serie A.