Prediction: Atletico Madrid to win 2-0
Best Odds: 7/1
Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund will lock horns with each other in the UEFA Champions League this week. The first leg of the quarter-final tie between the La Liga club and the Bundesliga outfit will be held at the Metropolitano Stadium and is scheduled to kick off at 8 pm UK time on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are one of the biggest clubs in the world and are used to playing in the knockout rounds of the UEFA Champions League on a regular basis. The La Liga outfit have now established themselves among Europe’s elite clubs under head coach Diego Simeone, and it is not a surprise at all to see them progress as far as the quarter-finals of Europe’s premier club competition.
The Madrid outfit failed to make an impact in Europe last season, but in the 2021-22 season, Atletico ended up in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. They reached the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League in 2020-21 and the quarter-finals in 2019-20. Diego Simeone’s side won Group E in the UEFA Champions League this season with 14 points from six matches before getting the better of Inter Milan over two legs in the Round of 16 tie.
Atletico are not having the best of times in La Liga this season and could miss out on a place in the top four. Colchoneros are fourth now with 58 points from 30 matches, as many 17 points behind leaders and city rivals Real Madrid and are two points ahead of Athletic Bilbao in fifth.
Team News:
Mario Hermoso is a major doubt for Atletico Madrid, who will be without Thomas Lemar ruled out for the first leg against Borussia Dortmund. Antoine Griezmann and Alvaro Morata are likely to start upfront, while Marcos Llorente could be deployed at right wing-back instead of in central midfield.
Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund are one of the biggest clubs in Germany and have established themselves among the elite clubs in Europe. The Bundesliga club tend to play in the UEFA Champions League on a regular basis, and, just as with Atletico Madrid, them playing in the knockout stages of Europe’s premier club competition is not a surprise at all.
Dortmund finished at the top of Group F in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League this season. The Bundesliga club picked up 11 points from six matches and ended up ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Newcastle United. Then in the Round of 16 tie, Edin Terzic’s side beat Dutch club PSV Eindhoven 3-1 over two legs to book their place in the quarter-finals.
Die Borussen are not having the best of times in the Bundesliga at the moment. Dortmund are now as low as fifth in the league table with 53 points from 28 matches, level on points with RB Leipzig in fourth. Dortmund have won four of their last five Bundesliga games.
Team News:
Borussia Dortmund could have Donyell Malen back in action following a thigh injury. Sebastien Haller is likely to start for the German club, who will be without Ramy Bensebaini due to a knee injury.
Key Factors to Consider
- Atletico Madrid have won twice against Borussia Dortmund.
- Borussia Dortmund have won twice against Atletico Madrid.
- Alvaro Morata has scored 19 goals and given 2 assists in 35 matches in all competitions for Atletico Madrid this season.
- Antoine Griezmann has scored 17 goals and provided 6 assists in 34 matches in all competitions for Atletico Madrid this season.
- Niclas Fullkrug has scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists in 34 games in all competitions for Borussia Dortmund this campaign.
Conclusion
Borussia Dortmund are not having the best of times and are also the visiting team. Playing at home will give Atletico Madrid a big advantage as well. It is hard to see anything but a win for the Spanish club on Wednesday.
Prediction: Atletico Madrid to win 2-0
Best Odds: 7/1
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