Leicester v Atletico Madrid Predictions & Betting Odds – 18th April 2017

Atleti to end Foxes' European adventure

Vardy (Leicester) © GEPA pictures
Jamie Vardy (Leicester) © GEPA pictures

Leicester v Atletico Madrid Betting Preview – UEFA Champions League 18th April 7.45pm

The Champions League adventure of the Foxes is still alive and kicking and they need another special night at the King Power to overturn a 1-0 deficit that they suffered from the first leg out in Spain against Atletico. The Spaniards, of course, know how to defend and they have the potential of away goals too. A big can night for Leicester, who are underdogs on home soil, can the Premier League side take their adventure a step further?

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Leicester v Atletico Madrid 2017 Infographic

Leicester v Atletico Madrid Betting Tips

Leicester aren’t dead a buried in this Champions League semi-final tie yet, but they have a big task ahead of them still. History is against them as 67.7% of teams having won their Champions League first-leg 1-0 at home have progressed to the next round (21 out of 31). Leicester played well out in the Calderon a week ago without raising a big threat going forward and conceded a dubious penalty. But still, they have some big home form in Europe this season having won all four of their home fixtures in the competition so far this term. In those games, they have netted six goals and have conceded only one. Both teams to score at Bet365 in this one is trading at 5/6. Leicester needs a minimum 2-0 scoreline to get through this, but putting two past Atleti isn’t going to be easy. Actually, after this game, a third of Leicester’s European games in their club history will have been against Atletico (6 out of 18) and they have yet to get the better of the Spaniards (D1 L5).

Leicester put in a big shift on the weekend too in the Premier League, blowing a two-goal lead at Crystal Palace to tie 2-2 in an open, end to end thriller. Over 2.5 goals at Bet365 in this one is a price of 23/20. Jamie Vardy is a 2/1 price in the anytime goalscorer market, however, he has netted just the one goal in eight Champions League games. Riyad Mahrez has four Champions League goals to his name this term and is a price of 10/3 to score. Leicester are the lowest scoring side left in the competition with ten goals in nine games and 50% of their goals have come from set-pieces. In the first leg out in Spain, Leicester failed to muster up a single shot on target in the entire match. Breaking down a side who has kept 27 clean sheets in 45 Champions League matches under Diego Simeone isn’t going to be easy. Do they pack enough of a punch?

No side has won more Champions League matches this season than Atletico Madrid have, having posted a W7 D1 L1 record in the campaign. Atletico Madrid have only conceded the three goals in this season’s competitions as well, so they can boast a remarkable defensive record. Atletico to win to nil again at Bet365 is a price of 9/4. Their experience at this level could count in spades for them as they are looking for their third semi-final appearance in the last four seasons of the competitions. Antoine Griezmann, who scored the goal in the first leg for them, now has 12 goals in the Champions League since last season, which is 52% of Atletico’s goals in the competition in that period. Griezmann is trading at a quote of 6/5 in the anytime goalscorer market. Atletico won their last visit to England, beating Chelsea in 2014 which was just their second win in eight matches in England (D2 L4). Of their last 21 UEFA Champions League away games the Rojiblancos have won ten and drawn five and each of the six defeats in that sequence was all by a one-goal margin.

Leicester v Atletico Madrid Betting Odds

Atletico Madrid 11/10, Draw 5/2, Leicester 14/5

Leicester v Atletico Madrid Predictions

Draw: It is just hard to see Atletico losing this one. Leicester will probably get better chances on home soil to pull themselves back into the tie, but Atleti are a class act, they can handle the pressure and secure passage to the next round.