Champions League preview and odds: Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

Published on: 11/04/2016

Champions League preview and odds: Atletico Madrid vs Barcelona

April 13, 2016 20:45pm - Estadio Vicente Calderon

Champions League - Quarter-final second leg

Barcelona have a one goal advantage but Atletico Madrid have a vital away goal to their name heading into this Champions League quarter-final second leg.

Atletico out to shock the favourites

When Atletico Madrid and Barcelona met at the same stage of this tournament two years, it was the home side who prevailed by a single goal at the Vicente Calderón to send Barcelona crashing out of the competition 2-1 on aggregate. If Atleti can match that 1-0 score-line on Wednesday, they would progress to the semi-final stage once again thanks to the away goal rule.

Diego Simeone`s men took the lead in the first leg but were soon at a disadvantage when goal scorer Fernando Torres was sent-off for a second bookable offence. The 10 men of Madrid were unable to hand on to their lead and were eventually undone by two Luis Suarez strikes.

The Colchoneros come into this game on the back of a 3-1 win away to Espanyol in La Liga. On home soil, they have kept 11 clean sheets in their last 15 matches in all competitions.

Barca suffering from end-of-season wobble

A run of just one win in their last four games has loosened Barcelona`s grip on the Spanish league title and has also sparked doubts about their chances of retaining their Champions League crown. As a result, Wednesday nights game has taken on an even more intriguing complexion.

A draw would be enough to send the Catalan team through but Luis Enrique`s men will be out to bag a vital away goal to cancel out Fernando Torres strike, and to ensure that the home side have to score at least twice to take the game to extra time.

In their last game, the Blaugrana fell 1-0 away to bogey team Real Sociedad to stretch their winless run in San Sebastian to seven games.

Team news

Fernando Torres is suspended for the home side who will also be without the injured duo of Jose Gimenez and Tiago.

Meanwhile, the visitors will be without Aleix Vidal, Adriano, Jeremy Mathieu and Sandro Ramirez.

Recent form (All competitions)

Atletico Madrid: WLWLW

Barcelona: LWLDW

Betting odds and tips

Despite Barcelona`s recent poor form (by their standards), they are still clear favourites to progress and they have clearly been putting all their focus on this competition. The Madrid side have only beaten their opponents once in their last 10 meetings at the Vicente Calderon. However, that win came at the same stage of this competition two years ago.

You can back the away win at 5/4 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 11/04/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (11/04/2016 12:57:17) but are subject to change.