Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund predictions: Tight first leg expected
- Atletico are fourth in LaLiga, 17 points behind leaders Real Madrid
- Dortmund are fifth in Bundesliga, 23 points off top spot
- Recommended bet: Draw
Atletico Madrid host fellow European giants Borussia Dortmund in what could be a cagey Champions League quarter-final first-leg encounter.
As the Champions League begins to reach its climax, both sides will be desperate to make it to the last four and pit their wits against the more fancied teams in the overall betting for Europe's premier club competition.
However, that could mean we are in for a tight and tense first leg in the Spanish capital with neither side willing to give too much away.
Team news
Thomas Lemar and Mario Hermoso are struggling and are set to miss out through injury for the hosts, while Memphis Depay is a doubt.
Ramy Bensebaini is definitely absent for Dortmund, while Nico Schlotterbeck is a major injury concern ahead of the first leg.
Donyell Malen has recently suffered a setback and may also be forced to watch on from the sidelines.
The stats
Atletico have won their last four home matches in the Champions League and are unbeaten in the competition at home since losing to AC Milan in November 2021 — a run of nine matches.
Dortmund are unbeaten in their last three away European games, a sequence this season which includes impressive wins at Milan and Newcastle.
BVB's five-game winning run in all competitions came to an end with a 1-0 home defeat on Saturday against Stuttgart.
Atletico have been inconsistent of late, with three wins and three defeats all told across their last six games.
Prediction
Atletico have a formidable home record in this competition at the Metropolitano Stadium and are sure to be disciplined, organised and difficult to break down on the night.
In typical Diego Simeone style, the hosts will attempt to keep a clean sheet and nick a goal if they can in the first leg, despite having home advantage, and even though Dortmund will be dangerous as well, these two could end up cancelling each other out.
The German giants have scored at least two goals in six of their last seven outings but could be restricted in midweek by an Atletico side adept at these sort of occasions.
It could make for a tactical battle rather than a goal-fest with so much at stake.
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