Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea predictions and match preview for Tuesday’s game in the UEFA Champions League. Read on for the head-to-head, team news and predicted lineups ahead of what could be an intriguing tie.
- DATE: Tuesday 23rd February 2021
- KICK-OFF: 22:00 (local time)
- VENUE: National Arena, Bucharest
- COMPETITION: UEFA Champions League
Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea Preview
On Tuesday evening Atlético Madrid are up against Chelsea at the Arena Nationala in the Champions League last 16. The first leg should be an intriguing one, with Covid restrictions meaning the game can’t be played at Atleti’s Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.
Atleti are unbeaten in their last thirteen home games in this competition and despite the unfamiliar setting, will want to make that fourteen in this match. However Diego Simeone’s side have hit a bit of a rough patch in the league picking up one win in their last four games and in their last outing they were beaten at home 2-0 by Levante. This is something you don’t see often at the Wanda but Chelsea’s Thomas Tuchel won’t be getting too excited just yet as Atleti did register 28 goal attempts in the game, and may feel as though they played quite well but it turned into just one of those games where nothing would go in.
Los Colchoneros will go into this match still with the belief and confidence of being LaLiga leaders and will take heart from having defeated English opposition in the shape of Liverpool at this stage last season. They will be hoping to take a lead to Stamford Bridge and the big goal for Diego Simeone’s side will be to not concede an away goal. It is seven without a clean sheet for Atleti in all competitions though, an untimely defensive slump.
Chelsea are unbeaten under Thomas Tuchel and are looking good after a bit of a rough period. Three of Tuchel’s wins have come away from home and with this game not being played in Madrid, there is a better chance of Chelsea getting a positive result.
It is going to be interesting to see how The Blues set up against Atleti and how they plan to get past that reliable defence. Tuchel will come to win but you would think the primary target will be that elusive away goal to bring back to Stamford Bridge. There will be no Thiago Silva for the West London side and his extensive experience and quality will be a massive miss in a mammoth game like this.
Head to Head
- Previous 6 Competitive Meetings: 2 Atleti Wins, 1 Chelsea Win, 3 Draws.
- There have been 6 Champions League meetings this century with 2 Chelsea wins and one for Atleti.
- However that solitary Atletico victory was the most important – a 3-1 win at Stamford Bridge in the Semi-Final 2nd Leg in 2014.
- The sides last met in the 2017/18 group stage with Chelsea 2-1 winners at the Wanda Metropolitano before a 1-1 draw in London.
Team News
It is questionable whether Yannick Carrasco will not feature in this match after picking up an injury away at Levante. The return of João Félix is a welcome one going into this.
Thiago Silva is expected to be Chelsea’s only major absentee.
Predicted Atleti Starting Lineup:
Oblak – Savic, Felipe, Hermoso – Lodi, Saul, Koke, Kondogbia, Llorente – Felix, Suarez (3-5-2)
Predicted Chelsea Starting Lineup:
Mendy – Rudiger, Christensen, Azpilicueta – Alonso, Kovacic, Jorginho, Hudson-Odoi – Mount, Werner – Abraham (3-4-2-1)
Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea Predictions
Score Prediction: Atletico Madrid 2-2 Chelsea
In what should be a fascinating game tactically. Chelsea will push for an away goal knowing that it is so important to bring something back to the Bridge and with Atleti not in the Wanda it could make this game more open. In terms of firepower, Atleti are much stronger than they were this time last year though and they have goals in them. This match could well be decided by who scores first.
UEFA Champions League Betting Tips (18+)
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