Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
With a Champions League Round of 16 spot hanging in the balance on Tuesday night, Atletico Madrid will welcome Club Brugge to the Spanish capital.
Atletico Madrid
Starting with the hosts, while Atletico Madrid might make their return to the Spanish capital on Tuesday night pencilled in as a standout contender to extend on their Champions League adventure, Diego Simeone’s men should be bracing themselves for what could be another tricky test. Remarkably throwing away the lead twice on foreign soil last week as they eventually had to settle for a thrilling 3-3 stalemate in Belgium, the Rojiblancos have a huge amount of pressure on their shoulders here. Despite claiming an immediate domestic response over the weekend as they clinched an action-packed 4-2 victory at home against Espanyol, Atletico know the importance of finding some crucial defensive steel. In fact, along with shipping eight goals in their last three outings across all competitions, Simeone’s side have also recorded just a sole clean sheet from their previous four showdowns on home soil.
Atletico Madrid Team News
Dealing with a muscle injury over the past few weeks, Atletico Madrid are once again expected to be without academy graduate Pablo Barrios here. However, despite serving a domestic suspension over the weekend, 20-year-old Rodrigo Mendoza should return to Simeone’s squad on Tuesday night.
Enjoying a remarkable start to life in the Spanish capital and already recording six direct goal contributions (four goals, two assists) in as many appearances across all competitions, January recruit Ademola Lookman should play a leading role in the final third. Handed a La Liga rest over the weekend, skipper Koke could be handed a full recall in the middle of the park.
Club Brugge
As for the visitors, coming from behind twice last week as they eventually snatched that pulsating 3-3 stalemate at the Jan Breydel Stadium, Club Brugge should find the mood in their camp at a red-hot high. Despite facing what should be a monumental challenge when they travel to the Spanish capital on Tuesday night, Ivan Leko’s men have already proven that they are capable of asking some serious questions. Picking up some perfect momentum over the weekend as they secured a 2-1 victory at home against Leuven, the former Standard Liege boss has seen his squad suffer just a single defeat from any of their previous eight appearances across all competitions. Signing off their Champions League group stage adventure with a dominant display as they stormed their way to a 3-0 romp against Marseille, Club Brugge should also be excited by their recent clinical edge in the final third.
Club Brugge Team News
Not featuring since January 16th and still dealing with a recent leg injury, Cub Brugge will travel to Madrid without number one goalkeeper Dani van den Heuvel. However, aside from the Dutch shot-stopper, Leko’s men have reported a clean bill of health.
Bagging a first-leg strike at the Jan Breydel Stadium last week and now finding the net in all of his previous four appearances across all competitions, German starlet Nicolo Tresoldi will spearhead Brugge’s attack. Likewise, notching a second European strike of the season last week, Nigerian ace Raphael Onyedika will start in the middle of the park.
Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge Key Factors to Consider
- When Atletico Madrid and Club Brugge met for their first-leg showdown over in Belgium last week, Tuesday’s opponents played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.
- Atletico have shipped eight goals in their last three appearances across all fronts.
- Simeone’s side have recorded just a single clean sheet from their previous four matchups in the Spanish capital.
- January recruit Ademola Lookman has recorded six direct goal contributions (four goals, two assists) in as many appearances across all competitions.
- Likewise, including his own first-leg strike last week, German starlet Nicolo Tresoldi has found the net in all of his previous four appearances.
Conclusion
With Atletico Madrid and Club Brugge playing out a thrilling 3-3 stalemate when they met for their first-leg showdown last week, neutrals from across the continent will be hoping for another Champions League thriller on Tuesday night. Watching Simeone’s side ship eight goals in their previous three appearances across all competitions, the Belgium heavyweights have already shown that they can cause some major headaches. Likewise, with Atletico registering just a sole clean sheet from their last four showdowns in the capital, chances could come thick and fast in midweek.
Verdict: Both teams to score
Best Odds: 8/11
Bookmaker: Olympusbet
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