Prediction and odds for the game: Atletico Madrid (5/2) v Liverpool (6/5)
We are backing the away win
When: Tuesday 18th February 2020, Kick-off 8 PM
Where: The Wanda Metropolitano
On Tuesday night, Atletico Madrid host Liverpool at the Wanda Metropolitano in the first leg of the last 16 in the Champions League. The tie promises to be highly fascinating.
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone’s team head into this clash at arguably the lowest ebb of the Argentinian coach’s reign in the capital. Los Rojiblancos have struggled for results of late, as a 2-2 draw against Valencia last time out means that they have won just once in their last seven games in all competitions. It is certainly not the sort of form they would have wanted to be in facing the formidable European champions.
Even Atletico’s recent Champions League record is inconsistent, as the team from the Spanish capital have won just three of their last seven matches in Europe’s elite competition.
One major positive for the home side is their recent record in the Champions League at the Wanda Metropolitano, as Simeone’s team are unbeaten in nine home matches, having recorded seven wins.
The key to those recent stellar home results in the Champions League has been superb defensive displays. In fact, Atleti have kept clean sheets in five of their last six home games on home soil in this competition.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp’s team just keep winning football matches. On Saturday, the Reds moved one step closer to winning the Premier League title by recording a narrow 1-0 win at relegation-threatened Norwich. With the top-flight title all-but sewn up, the Merseysider’s will be able to focus their attention on retaining their status as European champions.
Just with most competitions of late with Liverpool, the Reds have been hard to beat of late in the Champions League. The visitors have lost just once in their last eight matches in Europe’s elite competition, having recorded six wins in the process. Their only defeat in that recent run of games was on matchday one of the group stages. Klopp’s team has won four of their five games since then in the Champions League.
Understandably, considering they are European champions Liverpool have a good recent away record in Europe’s elite competition, as they have won five of their last seven games on their travels. The Reds have also been relatively prolific on their European travels of late, scoring at least twice in three of their last four away matches.
Conclusion
This a bad time for Atletico to be facing Liverpool. However, it could be said there is never a good time to face Jurgen Klopp’s side, as they just keep winning. We are backing Liverpool to pull off another win, but in a low-scoring encounter, as both sides are solid in defence.
Verdict: We are backing the away win at odds of 6/5 and/or under 2.5 goals scored 8/13.
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