Atletico Madrid v Leicester Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 12th April 7.45pm
Leicester get a taste of Champions League quarter-final action for the first time, this being their debut season in the tournament. However, in two of their three previous European campaigns throughout their history, they were eliminated by Atletico Madrid. Will they suffer the same fate again or should you write them off at your peril? Atletico Madrid are a formidable force on home soil, will they be able to bank themselves a first leg advantage?
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Atletico Madrid v Leicester Betting Tips
These two have met each other before and Leicester have fallen twice before at the hands of Atletico Madrid in European competition. Atletico are seeking their third semi-final appearance in four years. So these two have contested two times before, once in the 1997/98 UEFA Cup first round and in the 1961/62 European Cup Winners’ Cup first round and Atletico won both ties and three of the four previous matches a well. Atletico netted two goals exactly in three of those four games and two of their three wins over Leicester have been 2-0 results. An Atletico Madrid 2-0 correct score at Bet365 is trading at a price of 9/2. This is Atletico’s 9th appearance in the quarter-finals of the European Cup and they have a W5 L3 record from those previous visits, winning two of the last three. Atletico have lost just one home game in European Cup quarter-finals, which was back in 1996/97, winning five and drawing the other two.
They are a tremendous side at the Vicente Calderon in European action and they have posted a W28 D4 L2 record there in their last 34 European fixtures. Currently, Diego Simeone’s men are on a nine-match unbeaten streak on home soil in Europe (W7 D2) and have gone W3 D1 in their four home games in this campaign. They have won six of their eight games in the Champions League this season (more than any other side) and have won 16 of their 21 home games in the competition under Diego Simeone. If Leicester needed any clue as to the toughness of their opponents, Atletico earned a draw at the Bernabeu against rivals Real Madrid in the league on the weekend. Atletico have never lost at home against an English side in a W5 D5 record, but have won only one of their last five. Overall, Atletico’s record against English sides is W6 L2 and they have won the last two contests against English opponents. Atletico to win to nil at Bet365 is a price of 5/6 and they have kept a clean sheet in 15 of their last 17 Champions League games at the Calderón. Antoine Griezmann is 4/6 outright favourite in the anytime goalscorer market.
Leicester have already seen off Spanish opposition in this season’s UEFA Champions League, beating Sevilla against the odds in the last round. That was just their second ever success in European two-legged tie. It was also Leicester’s only other experience in facing a Spanish side other than Atletico. The Foxes won their opening away game in this year’s tournament, but have since gone W1 D1 L2 away from home, losing their last two road fixtures. Leicester City are the first team since Malaga in 2012/13 to reach the quarterfinals on their Champions League debut and of the eight teams left in, they are the lowest scoring side with 10 goals in 8 games. In the anytime goalscorer market, Jamie Vardy, who has seven goals in this last ten for club and country, is a big 15/4 price while Riyad Mahrez, who has four Champions League goals this season, is a 6/1 price. Atletico to win to nil at Bet365 is a price of 5/6 and 50% of Leicester’s goals in the competition have been from set pieces. That’s probably where their big threat will come from. Leicester’s possession average of 38% is the lowest of any team to have reached this season’s quarter-finals.
Atletico Madrid v Leicester Betting Odds
Atletico Madrid 3/10, Draw 9/2, Leicester 12/1
Atletico Madrid v Leicester Predictions
Atletico Home Win: This is a severe step up in the level of opposition for the Foxes and they are probably going to be found wanting in the Calderon. Atletico Madrid are a machine on home soil and they can cruise this by winning to nil against the Premier League side.
