Atletico Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen
Wednesday, 19:45
Live On BT Sport 1


Atletico Madrid

Unlike many of the teams still in the competition, Diego Simeone's side can afford to concentrate on the Champions League, as they look to reach the final for the third time in four seasons.

Currently fourth in La Liga, qualification for next season's Champions League seems probable, but they are too far off the pace to compete for the title. Having been eliminated from the Copa del Rey, the Champions League is the only realistic chance of silverware.

Not many would have guessed that Atletico's first-leg match away at Bayer Leverkusen in the last 16 of the competition, would have ended up with six goals being scored. Atletico claimed a 4-2 win, putting them in a great position ahead of Wednesday's home leg.

Atletico come into this game off the back of two consecutive victories, most recently winning away at Granada over the weekend. Stefan Savic broke his nose during the match and looks set to face Leverkusen wearing a protective mask.


Bayer Leverkusen

Leverkusen's home defeat to Atletico sparked a series of events that dramatically changed the direction of the club.

With the 4-2 loss in Germany making Champions League progression unlikely, the Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt was put under severe pressure in a season in which his team have been struggling in mid-table.

A subsequent home loss to Mainz, followed by a 6-2 thrashing at Borussia Dortmund sealed his fate. Schmidt was sacked, ending his near three year spell in charge of the club.

Tayfun Korkut is Schmidt's surprise successor. The former Turkish international hardly has a pedigree to inspire, having been sacked from his first senior management role at Hannover and resigning at Kaiserlautern last year after a string of poor results.


Ref Watch

Russian referee Sergei Karasev will officiate. His last seven games have seen him show three red cards. 


Match Odds

Atletico are the 1.66 favourites, with the draw at 4.20 and Bayer Leverkusen at 6.00.

Leverkusen are without a win in their last four games, which includes their home draw with Werder Bremen at the weekend. With Atletico having won all of their home Champions League matches this season, their price for victory represents decent value.


Over/Under 2.5 Goals 

Overs is the favourite here at 1.81, with under 2.5 goals at2.18.

Leverkusen will have to attack at some point if they are to have any hope of proceeding and along with the first-leg result, explains why overs is the favourite here. Yet with five of Atletico's six group games featuring less than three goals and the team having already done the hard work, it's worth going for unders at a price above evens.


To Score

Antoine Griezmann is the man in form for Atletico, coming into this game with five goals from as many matches. You can back the French striker to find the net at [2.05].

For Leverkusen, Kevin Volland has scored in his last two games and is available at 5.50 to add to his tally.


Recommended Bets


Back Atletico Madrid to win at 1.66
Back under 2.5 goals at 2.18
Back Griezmann to score at [2.05]



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