Atl. Madrid vs RB Leipzig prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-09-18 19:00.
[p]Just five months after being eliminated from last season’s UEFA Champions League (UCL) at the hands of Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, Atlético Madrid will kick off this European campaign with the first of two home games against Bundesliga opposition. Making their 12th consecutive appearance in this competition under the tireless Diego Simeone, the Spanish giants are looking to go beyond the quarter-finals for the first time since 2016/17.[/p]
[p]No visiting side were able to take all three points home from the Metropolitano in the two previous UCLs, and Simeone’s side recently emphasised the strength they boast at home by scoring six unanswered goals in three La Liga outings (W2, D1). Combine that with an unbeaten home record against German clubs in any UEFA competition this century (W8, D4) and this fixture against both RB Leipzig certainly looks winnable. [/p]
[p]Ironically, Atlético’s crosstown rivals Real Madrid were responsible for Leipzig’s departure from the last UCL in the round of 16 last term. The Red Bulls should be full of confidence of at least reaching the knockouts again this time around after making an unbeaten start to the season (W3, D1), while they also won their most recent meeting with Atlético in when the pair met behind closed doors at the quarter-final stage in Lisbon back in 2020.[/p]
[p]Leipzig have proven themselves to be fearless travellers in the last couple of campaigns and cannot be taken lightly, even if this promises to be a stern test. They progressed beyond the group stage of the two previous UCLs by winning two of their three away trips in each cycle (W2, L1), although they were the favourites in all four wins and underdogs in the two defeats.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Four of Antoine Griezmann’s UCL goals last season were scored at home, a tally he’s primed to add to after finding the net in their last two La Liga home victories. Similarly, Loïs Openda scored in two away games in last season’s UCL, while his three competitive goals this term were all scored on the road. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: Seven of Leipzig’s eight UCL matches last season saw both teams score on the day, as did seven of Atlético’s ten.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Aaron Murphy[/i][/p]