Atletico Madrid will host Borussia Dortmund at the Civitas Metropolitano in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid are coming into the game against Borussia Dortmund on the back of a narrow win over Villarreal away from home, and they will need to improve their performance levels to grind out a positive result here.
Los Rojiblancos have been quite vulnerable in recent weeks, and they have lost three of their last six outings in all competitions. The Spanish giants are up against a quality team, and they will have to raise their performance levels here.
Meanwhile, Borussia Dortmund will look to pick up a positive result away from home and look to decide the tie in the second leg at home. The Black and Yellows will look to take advantage of Atletico Madrid’s inconsistencies in recent weeks. That said, they were beaten by VfB Stuttgart in their last outing.
However, the Bundesliga giants have picked up five wins from their last six matches in all competitions, and they will be reasonably confident of grinding out an important to result here. This is likely to be a cracking contest, and it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Team News & Tactics
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are likely to be without Memphis Depay because of a muscle injury and Mario Hermoso because of physical discomfort. Other than that, the home side should be able to field the full strength line up here.
The Colchoneros are likely to shape up in a 3-5-2 formation, with Jan Oblak taking his spot between the sticks. In the back three, Jose Maria Gimenez will start alongside Axel Witsel and Reinildo Mandava. Nahuel Molina and Samuel Lino will start as the wing-backs. They will look to contribute at both ends of the pitch.
Marcos Llorente will start in the central midfield unit alongside Koke and Rodrigo De Paul. The three players will look to add defensive cover and to drive in the middle of the park. Finally, Alvaro Morata will lead the line for Atletico Madrid alongside Antoine Griezmann against Borussia Dortmund.
Probable Lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Reinildo; Molina, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Lino; Griezmann, Morata
Borussia Dortmund
The away side will be without Donyell Malen because of a hip injury. Ramy Bensebaini will return next month from his MCL injury. Borussia Dortmund will shape up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Gregor Kobel in goal.
Julian Ryerson and Ian Maatsen will start as the full-backs. They will look to keep things compact at the back and help out during transitions. Mats Hummels will start at the heart of the defence alongside Nico Schlotterbeck.
In the midfield, Emre Can will start as the defensive midfielder, and he will look to break up opposition attacks. Marcel Sabitzer and Julian Brandt will start alongside him, and the two players will look to add creativity and drive to the side. Niclas Fullkrug will lead the line for Borussia Dortmund against Atletico Madrid, with Jadon Sancho and Karim Adeyemi on either side of him.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can, Brandt; Sancho, Fullkrug, Adeyemi
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund have met twice in the past, with both teams winning one game each.
- Six goals have been scored in the last two meetings between these two teams.
- Atletico Madrid have lost three of their last six matches in all competitions.
- Borussia Dortmund have won five of the last six matches in all competitions.
- Atletico Madrid have conceded 11 goals in the last six outings in all competitions.
Player to Watch
Antoine Griezmann
The 33-year-old French international has 19 goals and seven assists in all competitions this season, and he will look to continue his rich vein of form and help Atletico Madrid progress to the next round of the competition.
Griezmann has the ability to find the back of the net and open up opportunities for his teammates. He will be our key player to watch out for, and Atletico Madrid will depend on him to find a way past the German side.
Prediction
Atletico Madrid 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Atletico Madrid have a proven track record when it comes to big games, and Diego Simeone knows how to grind out results, especially at home. They are likely to make life difficult for the opposition here with their relentless defensive setup, and Borussia Dortmund will find it hard to come away with a win here. This is likely to be a close contest, but the home side should be able to grind out a win.