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Two of the evenly matched clubs from European Club football, who have a history of not being the favourites for the Champions League trophy, will come face to face on Thursday for the fifth time in the history of European competition. Atletico Madrid host Borussia Dortmund will meet on Thursday at Wanda Metropolitano for the 1st leg of the Champions League quarter-final.
Diego Simeone and his boys witnessed a thrilling end to their round of 16 stages with a win over Inter Milan in the 2nd leg. The future went to the penalties where the Los Colchoneros their Italian counterparts.
Borussia Dortmund had a comfortable run in the round of 16 against PSV Eindhoven and registered a win with an aggregate score of 3-1. After missing out on the quarter-final for 2 consecutive years, die Schwarzgelben is still carrying a draught of 57 years on the Champions League trophy.
Atletico Madrid have scored an average of 2.27 goals at home this season out of which an average of 0.87 goals came in the first half.
The betting tip is...
Atletico Madrid will score a goal in the first half.
63 %
37 %
Los Colchoneros became the victim of their own choice during the round of 16 against Inter Milan. They lost the first leg by 1-0 at the San Siro and at home, they fell in the tarp of Interβs defence. Even Memphis Depayβs goal took the team to win the match through penalties.
They lost the first leg by 1-0 and in the 2nd leg, an early goal by Antoine Griezmann gave them the hope to reach the quarter-finals. Overall, Atletico Madrid carries an average possession of 51% - which is comparatively less than their other counterparts in the competition. With an average of 11.17 shots in every game, Los Colchoneros have a conversion percentage of 17% shots. In the La Liga point table, the club stands 17 points behind the top spot this season and has already lost any chances to win the league title.
Alvaro Morata is their highest scorer with 14 goals in 27 appearances. Antoine Griezmann is following him with 11 goals and 6 assists on his name. The Thursday fixture will mark the Clubβs third participation in the quarter-final in the last 5 years. Diego Simeone will be dependent on this attacking duo to give the advantage to the team in the early hours of the game.
On the defence front, Atletico lacks inspiration as they have conceded an average of 1.17 goals in every game and at home they carry an average of 1.07. The club has won 9 clean sheets in the last 30 fixtures.
Thomas Lemar is in the injury room with his Achilles tendon rapture and Mario Hermoso is sidelined because of his thigh injury.
Predicted Lineup: Oblak; Witsel, Gimenez, Reinildo; Molina, Llorente, Koke, De Paul, Lino; Griezmann, Morata
Die Schwarzgelben came against all odds in the group F and were in the top of the charts by defeating PSG, Milan and Newcastle. They earned the right to face PSV and had a comfortable win against their Dutch rivals.
In the round of 16, the first leg witnessed a draw at PSVβs home ground. Donyell Malen scored the first goal for Dortmund but all thanks to the PSVβs forward Luuke de Jong, who converted a penalty for PSV in the 56th minute. However, when the Rood-witten travelled to Signal Iduna Park, the hosts dominated the game and scored a 2-0 win.
Overall, Edin TerziΔ and his boys have managed to register an average possession of 58% while winning 32% clean sheets this season. With an average of 12.54 shots in every game, the visitors have converted 16% of their shots. Niclas FΓΌllkrug is their highest scorer with 11 goals and 8 assists on his name. Julian Brandt is another man to watch out for who has 11 assists and 6 goals on his name.
Die Schwarzgelben has managed to have a strong defence but they have conceded an average of 1.18 goals this season out of which an average of 0.93 came in the away fixtures. With 9 clean sheets out of 28 fixtures, Dortmund will eye an advantage in the first leg.
Ramy Bensebaini is out of action because of his knee injury.
Predicted Lineup: Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can, Brandt; Sancho, Fullkrug, Adeyemi
Atletico Madrid has always been a defence force when it comes to their Champions League fixtures at home, They have never lost a knockout fixture at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Dortmund, on the other hand, have not presented themselves with their complete strength in the away fixtures and they are also coming after a home loss against Stuttgart.
We expect Dortmund to suffer on Thursday and predict a victory for the hosts on Thursday.
