UEFA Champions League Preview: Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

April 16, 2024

Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid will battle it out for a place in the semi-finals of the Champions League in the second leg of their quarter-final showdown on Tuesday night.

Los Colchoneros hold a slim advantage after securing a 2-1 victory in the first leg at Wanda Metropolitano last week. However, the tie hangs delicately in the balance as both teams gear up for what promises to be an enthralling encounter at Signal Iduna Park.

In the first half of their quarter-final against Atletico, Dortmund found themselves distinctly outplayed, conceding goals from Rodrigo De Paul and Samuel Lino, leaving the Spanish outfit with a comfortable two-goal lead. At halftime, a comeback seemed unlikely, but Borussia Dortmund showed significant improvement in the second half.

Sebastien Haller provided BVB's lone goal in the 81^st minute at Wanda Metropolitano. The tie is now finely balanced, with Dortmund trailing overall but having the advantage of playing at home.

Borussia Dortmund Betting Preview (+110 at Everygame)

Veterans Mats Hummels and Marco Reus face a fight to keep Champions League dream alive when Borussia Dortmund host Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-final second leg on Tuesday evening.

Edin Terzic's side will take on recently-crowned Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen next weekend but their focus falls on Tuesday's clash.

Marcel Sabitzer's first-half brace secured a valuable 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach over the weekend as Dortmund remained level on 56 points with fourth-placed RB Leipzig. However, the Red Bulls have superior goal difference.

The Black and Yellow advanced past Eredivisie giants PSV Eindhoven in the last-16 stage of this season's competition, clinching a 3-1 aggregate victory. They showcased their strength in the group stage as well, outperforming Paris Saint-Germain to secure the top spot in Group F - the "Group of Death", while AC Milan was relegated to the Europa League and Newcastle United left European competitions altogether.

Since their memorable run to the final in 2012-13, where they faced Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich and lost 2-1, BVB have not progressed beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Last season, they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Chelsea.

Jadon Sancho was sidelined with illness during Dortmund's match against Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday but is anticipated to make his return to the lineup on Tuesday night.

Sebastien Haller sustained a knock in the team's recent outing, resulting in an early substitution, potentially ruling him out for Tuesday's quarterfinal. Furthermore, Ramy Bensebaini is unavailable due to a knee injury.

With Donyell Malen back to full fitness, the Netherlands attacker could find himself in the starting XI for this crucial fixture. Julian Brandt, who came on as a substitute in the first leg against Atletico, is vying for a spot in attacking midfield.

Among Dortmund's goal scorers this season, only Malen, with 13 goals, has outperformed Niclas Fullkrug. Despite his recent struggles, the 31-year-old German international is poised to lead the attacking line against Atletico on Tuesday night.

Atletico Madrid Betting Preview (+225 at Everygame)

Diego Simeone's squad have shown resilience following their 3-0 loss to Barcelona right before last month’s international break, securing victories against Villarreal and Girona in La Liga, along with their first-leg victory over Borussia Dortmund.

Atletico Madrid dominated the first leg, and they might rue not capitalizing on their strong performance as they head into the crucial second leg in Germany.

Their recent 3-1 win over domestic sensation Girona showcased their strength, placing them fourth in the La Liga table, with a five-point lead over fifth-placed Athletic Bilbao. With that said, Atletico controls their fate in the top four race.

Diego Simeone's men remained undefeated in the group phase, topping their group with 14 points from six matches, which included meetings with Lazio, Feyenoord, and Celtic.

However, Atletico's recent Champions League campaigns haven't been as successful. They were eliminated in the group stage last season and haven't progressed beyond the quarter-finals since their semi-final clash against Real Madrid in 2016-17.

In the last-16 of this season's tournament, Los Rojiblancos showcased their resilience by triumphing over Serie A champions elect Inter Milan. Despite initially trailing 2-0 on aggregate due to Federico Dimarco's opener in Madrid, Atletico Madrid emerged victorious following a thrilling comeback on their home turf to eventually secure victory in a dramatic penalty shootout.

Memphis Depay is sidelined with a muscular issue, while Thomas Lemar and Samuel Lino, who is suspended, are also unavailable for selection. However, Mario Hermoso made his return against Girona on Saturday.

Saul Niguez is doubtful and will undergo a late fitness test after being substituted in the first half against Girona in La Liga.

Pablo Barrios is back in contention after serving his suspension, while the likes of Jose Gimenez, Cesar Azpilicueta, Marcos Llorente, Axel Witsel, and Alvaro Morata are expected to return to the starting lineup.

There's a strong possibility that Diego Simeone will opt for the same system that started the first leg against Dortmund, with Antoine Griezmann once again leading the attack along with Alvaro Morata. The latter was introduced as a substitute against Girona at the weekend and even though he didn't score, Morata made an instant impact with his spectacular assist for Angel Correa.

Possible Starting Lineups of Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund: Gregor Kobel - Julian Ryerson, Mats Hummels, Nico Schlotterbeck, Ian Maatsen - Marcel Sabitzer, Emre Can - Julian Brandt, Donyell Malen, Jadon Sancho - Niclas Fullkrug. (4-2-3-1)

Atletico Madrid: Jan Oblak - Nahuel Molina, Axel Witsel, Jose Gimenez, Mario Hermoso, Cesar Azpilicueta - Marcos Llorente, Koke, Rodrigo De Paul - Antoine Griezmann, Alvaro Morata. (5-3-2)

Spooky Express Betting Prediction

These two teams have an evenly matched head-to-head record, each securing three wins out of their seven encounters, with one draw in the mix.

While Borussia Dortmund could potentially stage a comeback on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid's prowess at this stage of the competition is undeniable. Yet, we're inclined to support the La Liga giants to secure at least a draw, which would propel them to the semi-finals of the Champions League once more.

Spooky Express Free Play: Outcome and Totals - X2 and Over 1.5 Goals +110 at Everygame for 5/10 Units

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