Atalanta vs Real Madrid prediction: EUROPE: Champions League – League phase betting tips on match 2024-12-09 20:00.
[p]Last season’s UEFA Europa League winners Atalanta are unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) this term (W3, D2) and on Friday made it nine Serie A wins in a row by beating AC Milan 2-1. Now, one of Europe’s most in-form teams may have revenge on their minds against reigning UCL champions Real Madrid, who beat them 2-0 in the UEFA Super Cup in August.[/p]
[p]They’ve never beaten the Spanish giants in three attempts (L3), all of which came from 2021 onwards, and they’ve sometimes struggled to translate their domestic brilliance into Europe this term as they’ve drawn both league phase games 0-0 at Gewiss Stadium. La Dea would perhaps take another draw here given their poor home record against Spanish clubs in Europe (W1, L2), while their comfortable top-half position allows them some wriggle room.[/p]
[p]Madrid won 1-0 here in their only previous visit in 2020/21 during the round of 16 and desperately need a repeat as they start the round just inside the top 24 – a position which would only guarantee them a knockout phase play-off place. After defeats to AC Milan and Liverpool, they face the unsavoury prospect of losing three straight UCL fixtures in the same season for the first time![/p]
[p]In fact, no reigning champion has ever suffered such a fate in the UCL/European Cup but at least Los Blancos arrive having just beaten Girona 3-0 away from home in La Liga to keep the pressure on leaders Barcelona. That win should see them head to manager Carlo Ancelotti’s homeland in good spirits, especially with VinĂcius JĂşnior and Rodrygo expected to return, as he chases a third successive away win as manager at the Gewiss Stadium.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Marten de Roon contributed to the game-opening goal in both of Atalanta’s last two games (G1, A1) – one more goal this term would secure his best scoring season since 2016/17 when he played for Middlesbrough. Jude Bellingham was outstanding for Madrid against Girona (G1, A1) and he’s now scored in five of his last six club appearances, three times between the 25th minute and half-time.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: After matchday five, Madrid players had collected a league phase-high average of 3.6 yellow cards per game this term.[/p]
[p][i]Written by John Pennington[/i][/p]