Atletico Madrid vs. Bayer Leverkusen Preview
Where: Vicente Calderon Stadium – Madrid, Spain
When: Wednesday, March 15, 2017, 2:45 PM ET
Line: Atletico Madrid -200 vs. Bayer Leverkusen +415, draw +300; total 2.5 – view all Champions League lines
Writer’s Pick: Atletico Madrid (-200)
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Betting on Atletico Madrid (-200)
Atletico Madrid will be comfortably in the driver’s seat in terms of qualifying for the quarterfinals over Bayer Leverkusen. After a 4-2 first-leg away win, the Spanish side can even lose by a two-goal margin and still go through on away goals. It’ll take a truly epic meltdown for them to fail to make it past the round of 16 for the first time in four seasons under Diego Simeone.
But even with the job effectively done, Atleti won’t be easy to beat at home. They were outstanding at the Vicente Calderon during the group stage with three wins out of three and a single goal conceded. Atleti have now conceded just once in their last eight Champions League games.
Antoine Griezmann scored one of the team’s four goals during the first leg, and has been in fantastic form lately. He’s scored four times in his last three games. The French forward has been even more instrumental in the Europe, where he’s been directly involved in nine of Atletico’s last 10 home Champions League goals (seven goals, two assists).
Betting on Bayer Leverkusen (+415)
Leverkusen’s 4-2 first-leg defeat to Atletico, coupled with an embarrassing 6-2 thrashing against Borussia Dortmund, eventually spelled the end for manager Roger Schmidt. Tayfun Kokrat is now in charge, and will have the monumental task of trying to overturn a two-goal deficit away from home against Atletico Madrid.
Leverkusen have played just once under their new boss, and drew 1-1 at home to a struggling Werder Bremen side. It’s now been a month since Leverkusen has tasted victory; they’ve lost three and drawn one of their last four games.
That’s obviously not ideal preparation ahead of a tough away assignment in Spain. But aside from recent form, history also won’t be on the Germans’ side. Leverkusen have now lost nine of their last 10 Champions League knockout games.
They have also had a lot of trouble against Spanish opposition in Europe. They’ve failed to score more than once in their last seven Champions League matchups against Spanish clubs. That streak has a very good chance of continuing against a very stingy Atletico defense.
Writer’s Prediction
Atletico (-200) seal the deal with a 2-0 home win over Leverkusen.
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