Atletico have perfect revenge recipe for Champions League
Published:
But for Sergio Ramos’ late Champions League leveller in Lisbon last May, Atletico Madrid would still be revelling in a monumental double-winning season under Diego Simeone. As it is, they go into a rematch of that final with Real Madrid as mere defending La Liga champions.
That they face Carlo Ancelotti’s men over the course of two legs in the quarter-final of the competition gives them a far greater chance of exacting revenge, with a favourable 90-minute record over their local rivals weighing heavily on their side.
Not in eight outings have Los Blancos managed to beat Simeone’s side during the course of normal time, with Atleti winning half of those games.
This has become a common rivalry – the Champions League games will be the pair’s seventh and eighth (!) meeting of the season – and Los Colchoneros won convincingly in the most recent edition.
Two goals either side of the break handed the hosts an emphatic 4-0 win at the Vicente Calderon last time, the third consecutive Madrid derby Atletico had won in front of their own fans.
Ladbrokes offer 9/5 on a home win this time around, which in itself represents superb value given their recent record, while the 1/2 on Atletico either winning or drawing the game should also come under serious consideration.
However a propensity for goals in these games makes the 21/20 about a tussle of over 2.5 the play to make.
15 of the last 26 battles between these two have seen a bet of this nature land and with Real scoring two or more in five of their last six games this looks like another winner.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
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