Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid
6th November 2000hrs
Football – Europe – Champions League
Pick Under 2.5 goals
Bookmaker Marathonbet
Odds: 71/100 odds taken 2000 GMT, Tuesday 5 November)
It’s win or bust time for Bayer Leverkusen who are yet to pick up a point in Group D. Atletico Madrid have struggled for large parts of this season but can qualify for the knockout phase with victory tomorrow night.
Champions League Betting at Marathonbet
Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid Live Stats & Betting Odds
Bayer Leverkusen Preview – Can Bayer get off the mark for the campaign and keep their slim qualification hopes alive?
It was always going to be a big ask for Bayer Leverkusen to get out a group containing both Juventus and Atletico Madrid. At the halfway point it is now looking like an almighty task and uncertain even for them to even finish third. Peter Bosz’ team are yet to pick up a point in the group stage and have managed just one goal. With their first game coming at home to Lokomotiv Moscow the expectation was they would get their campaign off to a winning start, but it wasn’t to be. Some calamitous defending meant they slipped to a 2-1 defeat and put them really up against it. Worse was to follow as Juventus dispatched them 3-0 in Turin before a narrow 1-0 loss in Madrid against Atletico a fortnight ago.
With two home games to come there is at least some hope of turning things around but in all honesty, Leverkusen are now playing for third spot – if they weren’t before. Anything gained from tomorrow will be a bonus in that pursuit before a crunch game in Moscow. Bosz will be hoping that Juve can do them a favour and take all three points against Lokomotiv before this game kicks off on Wednesday.
Atletico Madrid Preview – Are Atleti set to do the double over the Germans and book their place in the knockout stage?
Had you offered Diego Simeone seven points from their first three matches he would undoubtedly had taken it as Atletico look to progress into the knockout stage. Two wins and a draw thus far puts them joint top along with Juve and seemingly on the cusp of qualification. That, of course, is the aim and therefore Simeone is unlikely to be overly concerned with how his team have performed up until now. it was a comfortable win in Moscow against Lokomotiv on match day one, winning 2-0. A dramatic comeback at home to Juventus in the following game from two goals down to earn a point demonstrated what we have come to expect from this club. However, despite taking all three points at home to Leverkusen last time out, it was a lethargic display and one we’ve seen to often from Atleti this season.
It was further dropped points in La Liga at the weekend as Atletico drew 1-1 away to Sevilla. Fortunately for Simeone is that the likes of Real Madrid and Barcelona have been just as poor so they remain close enough in their quest to win the title. Unless performances improve significantly, however, it’s unlikely Atleti will be celebrating success domestically or in Europe.
Key-Facts – Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid
- Bayer sit bottom of Group D and are yet to pick up a point in the Champions League this season
- Atleti are well placed to go through along with Juventus but they need to improve on performances if they are to be a threat in the knockout stage
- A late goal from Alvaro Morata was the difference between the sides in Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen v Atletico Madrid Betting Advice
It’s fair to say the first meeting of these two was hardly a classic. Alvaro Morata’s goal with a little over 10 minutes to play gave Atletico a crucial three points despite not playing well. Unfortunately for Bayer, the way things are going for them at the moment meant there was something of an inevitability about it all. It’s just one win in seven games for the Germans across all competitions and that came in the German Cup.
All things being equal you have to think that Bayer are already looking at the Europa League as being their ambition from here on in. Whilst Altetico have not been great it’s difficult to see where Leverkusen get a win from, even though they are at home. Simeone will set his team up very compact and look to take advantage of any opportunities on the break. Six of their last eight Champions League games have went under 2.5 goals and with Bayer struggling in front of goal it’s set to be another low-scoring affair.
