MADRID (AP) Atletico Madrid is looking for some new help up front.
The Spanish team faces Benfica on Wednesday in the Champions League, with first place in Group C at stake.
Atletico coach Diego Simeone said he wanted recent signings Jackson Martinez and Luciano Vietto to compete with veteran Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann, and thereby increase the team's overall production up front. But Griezmann and Torres are holding up Atletico's attack while sharing time with the so far unproductive newcomers.
''Jackson is learning to play in our system, which isn't easy for forwards,'' said Atletico midfielder Tiago Mendes, a former Benfica player. ''They help a lot in defense, working an extraordinary amount. For us, forwards don't only score goals.''
Atletico and two-time former champion Benfica both won their opening matches.
Galatasaray visits Astana in Kazakhstan in Group C's other match, with both seeking their first points.
Here are some things to know about Wednesday's Group C games:
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MARTINEZ'S MOMENT?
Torres is making a strong argument to be Atletico's main striker, but no one doubts that the chances of the club making a title run either in Spain or Europe will depend on Martinez.
Torres has scored two goals and has looked to be more in-tune with his teammates than Martinez, who has one goal in seven appearances. Vietto has yet to score in four matches.
Simeone has divvied up starts between Torres and Martinez, with the other going on in relief as a second-half substitute. And the Argentine coach trusts Martinez will live up to his 35 million euro ($39.4 million) transfer from FC Porto, Benfica's main rival in Portugal.
''(Martinez) is a very important player for us and he knows that he still has to grow a lot,'' Simeone said after Saturday's 1-0 loss at Villarreal. ''Jackson will appear in the important and decisive moments. I hope he will appear in those moments.''
There is no question that the best partner for either Torres or Martinez is France forward Antoine Griezmann, who scored both goals in Atletico's 2-0 win at Galatasaray to start its European campaign. Overall, Griezmann has found the net five times in seven matches to lead the 2014 runners-up in scoring.
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TIME FOR A DUEL
It could be payback time for Benfica striker Jonas.
Martinez won the Portuguese league's Golden Boot for top scorer when he was at Porto last season. He racked up 21 goals, denying Jonas, who netted one goal fewer.
Jonas is in sharp form this season. The Brazilian has seven goals from six games, including two last weekend.
Benfica could also use one of Atletico's own discards against it.
Atletico sent Mexico forward Raul Jimenez to the Portuguese champions over the offseason after he failed to earn a place in Simeone's rotation. Jimemenz has scored once in four appearances as a substitute, and impressed in Benfica's 3-0 win over Pacos Ferreira over the weekend.
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WELCOME TO KAZAKHSTAN
Astana will make history for Kazakhstan when it becomes the country's first team to host a group match in the Champions League.
Astana fell 2-0 at Benfica in their debut.
Despite Astana being unknown to most, Galatasaray midfielder Selcuk Inan can call on his experience playing for Turkey against Kazakhstan.
''We've played against their national team on a number of occasions,'' Inan said. ''They know their capabilities when playing, they are very strong and they always fight for it. They stay focused for the whole 90 minutes, and they always play as a whole. Benfica struggled to win that game. We are also going to struggle.''
Galatasaray is looking to break a nine-game winless run away from home in European matches, a bad streak going back to March 2013.
