Arsenal v Atletico Madrid Betting Preview – UEFA Europa League 26th April 8.05pm
Arsenal got the team that they wanted to avoid in the semi-final draw for the UEFA Europa League. They have drawn the tournament outright favourites in Atletico Madrid and the Gunners are going to have their work cut out for them. They need a strong performance in this home first leg to be in with a good chance. The Gunners really need to land something of a blow on their opponents in the capital here, but that is easier said than done against a very strong Atletico side.
Arsenal News and Form
Arsenal had a bit of a scare in the last round, as CSKA Moscow came back at them hard in the second leg. However, the Gunners survived and find themselves in the final four. They won four of their six group stage matches, before being rattled against Swedish minnows Ostersund in the round of 32. They did produce two very strong legs though to land back to back wins over AC Milan in the final sixteen. Arsenal hold a W10 D7 L14 record against Spanish sides and at home from their fourteen games are W8 D3 L3 against Spanish opponents. They have collected five wins in their nine two-legged ties against Liga opposition in Europe, but are on a three-match losing streak currently. Their most recent meeting with a Spanish side was against Barcelona in the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League. The Gunners were on eight-match unbeaten home streak (W6 D2) in Europe before losing against Ostersund. But hit back in home form with a 3-1 win over AC Milan and a 4-1 success over CSKA. Over 2.5 goals at bet365 in this one is at 43/40 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018). Before beating AC Milan, the Gunners had lost each of their previous six European home games in the spring.
Atletico Madrid News and Form
Atletico had a bit of a scare as well in the last round of competition. After dropping out of the Champions League, they got past FC Copenhagen and Lokomotiv Moscow easily enough, winning all four games in the Europa League, before their clash with Iberian rivals Sporting in the quarter finals. Atletico won the first leg 2-0 at home but lost 1-0 away in the second leg as the Portuguese side came back at them. They were on a seven-match winning streak away from home in the UEFA Europa League before that. Atlético’s record in 27 matches against English clubs is W10 D11 L6 and they have won seven of their nine previous two-legged contests against English opposition. They have only won two games from their previous twelve visits to English soil though (D7 L4). The 1-1 draw in the bet365 correct score market is at 11/2 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018) and there is a trend as their last two games in England have ended with that scoreline, against Chelsea and Leicester. Atlético’s overall record in 14 UEFA competition semi-final ties is W8 L6 winning four of their last five. They have only taken four wins in their last 14 away legs of UEFA semi-final ties. With Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa, they have the power to trouble the Arsenal back line.
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid Head to Head
This will be the first-ever meeting between Arsenal and Atletico Madrid in UEFA competition.
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid Betting Odds*
Arsenal 6/4, Atletico Madrid 17/10, Draw 12/5* (Betting Odds taken at 3:24 p.m. on April 20th, 2018)
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid Predictions
There’s no easy road ahead for Arsenal in this semi final duel. The Gunners are a better side at home than they are away from home and may be able to tough it out in this home first leg. But Atletico are such a difficult side to break down and get the better of, so back the Spaniards to get in the picture with a draw before returning home.
