Leicester’ experience in the Champions League continues on Wednesday as they travel to play Atletico for their 1st leg quarter-finals. Performing against Atletico who have reached the finals in two of the last three seasons is a huge challenge for Leicester, but they will try to put their best effort and impress once again. Atletico Madrid have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the 4th season in a row. They have won six of their eight Champions League matches. Leicester have won just of their four away games in the Champions League this term (3-0 vs. Club Brugge). The two teams meet each other for the 1st time in the Champions League.
Leicester are prized as underdogs by all the green listed bookmakers but the Spanish team should not underestimate the Foxes. Since sacking Ranieri, they’ve won 6 back-to-back matches in all competitions and they have climbed up to 11th place in the English Premier League, eight points above the relegation zone. They have rested some of their star players for Sunday’s defeat at Everton (4-2). If they want to qualify further they have to be really organized against Atletico and catch them on the break. Scoring an away goal will be really important and will give them a boost of confidence heading into their 2nd leg fixture.
Atletico are one of the most consistent teams in Europe, full of talents, having a great reputation for being Champions League specialists. They are out of the La Liga title race this season so they will be fully focused on their Champions League adventure. The draw was very lucky for the home team, but they shouldn’t consider themselves winners from before. We believe that Atletico will try to have the possession and control the match from the start so they will not park the bus and wait for their opponents to attack. They kept a clean sheet in 15 of their last 17 Champions League home games.
Both teams have similar spirit and we expect a match closer than the odds are suggesting. Yes Leicester are the underdogs and nobody was expecting them to make it so far, but they still have a chance and they will make it tough for Atletico to qualify further. Leicester have nothing to lose and they will try to pull of another great upset. Atletico enters this match full of confidence and determined to solve the qualification from the 1st leg having a great morale after their last result (1-1 away at Real Madrid in the Spanish La Liga). Their main striker, Antoine Griezmann is on fire scoring 6 goals in his last eight games for the club.
Best pick for the match:
Both teams to score at 2.5 with Betfair
Antoine Griezmann anytime goal-scorer at 1.75 with Bet365
Leicester to win with +1.75 AH (Asian Handicap) at 1.75 with Bet365
Over 2.5 goals in the match at 1.9 with Unibet
Calculators
