Barcelona forward Arda Turan is "nervous" about playing his former club Atletico Madrid and revealed the clash has been on his mind for a long time. 

The Turkey international moved to Camp Nou last summer, after spending four seasons at the Vicente Calderon, and made his belated debut for the Catalans earlier this month - due to the Blaugrana's ban on registering players until 2016.

Arda has settled in well to his new surroundings, racking up two assists in his first two Liga outings for his new employers, but freely admits that he is anxious about facing his former team-mates for the first time.

"This game has been playing on my mind for a long time now," he told Barca TV.  "Before the game and even after the game I will be nervous. 

"But I will concentrate, play and enjoy myself."

Barcelona are level on points with Atletico at the top of the La Liga table - despite having played one game more - and Turan is anticipating a fiercely competitive encounter. 

"[Atletico] are always a difficult rival," the 28-year-old added. "It will be a special game though, a different one. 

"Playing against them is always difficult, but we will try to win and go out and give everything we can to secure the three points."