Atalanta vs Real Madrid predictions and match preview for Wednesday’s game in the UEFA Champions League. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups as Los Blancos travel to Bergamo.
- DATE: Wednesday 24th February 2021
- KICK-OFF: 21:00 (local time)
- VENUE: Gewiss Stadium
- COMPETITION: UEFA Champions League
Atalanta vs Real Madrid Preview
Real Madrid’s Champions League knockout stage campaign gets underway on Wednesday. Despite plenty of scares during the group stage, Real ultimately ended up winning their group to land on paper a more favourable last 16 tie than they might have got. Atalanta are a dangerous team though and one that will fancy their chances of upsetting an injury-ravaged Madrid side.
Atalanta may not be one of the bigger Italian clubs but they are no longer strangers to this competition having got the better of Spanish opposition in the form of Valencia at this stage in last year’s Champions League. They currently sit 4th in Serie A and continue to be a side with considerable attacking firepower having netted 53 times in 23 games this season in the Italian top flight.
They take good form into this one too with just one defeat in 20 matches in all competitions. They’ve won each of their last three and have scored three or more goals in 9 of their last 11 home games. The likes of Napoli, Lazio and Roma have all been well beaten during that run, although curiously all of their three wins during the Champions League group stage came away from home.
Real Madrid head to Bergamo with what may be mixed feelings about how to approach this. Zinedine Zidane will need to master risk and reward. The absence of key men such as Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos clearly leaves them depleted but they have been finding a way to win league games despite their mounting injury list.
They’ve won their last 4 in LaLiga to remain in the hunt for the title and they certainly are contenders again with Atleti faltering. Whether they are good enough to go all the way in the Champions League is very much in doubt but they will still be favourites to win this tie, although this could be a very tricky 1st Leg with limited attacking options and not much of a bench.
Head to Head
- The sides have never previously met.
Team News
Hans Hateboer is Atalanta’s only significant injury absentee.
Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Eden Hazard are among a list of nine missing first team squad members, which will leave their bench seriously depleted again.
Predicted Atalanta Starting Lineup:
Gollini – Djimsiti, Romero, Toloi – Gosens, Freuler, Roon, Maehle – Ilicic – Zapata, Muriel (3-4-1-2)
Predicted Real Madrid Starting Lineup:
Courtois – Mendy, Nacho, Varane, Vazquez – Kroos, Casemiro, Modric – Vini, Mariano, Asensio (4-3-3)
Atalanta vs Real Madrid Predictions
Score Prediction: Atalanta 2-1 Real Madrid
Atalanta are a good side and Real Madrid simply can’t afford to do anything other than treat them as such. The free-scoring Italians have the tools to win the 1st Leg, particularly with Real Madrid’s injury problems. However you’d still fancy Los Blancos will find a way to get that all important away goal which could make all the difference when the clubs reunite in the Spanish capital.
UEFA Champions League Betting Tips (18+)
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