Bayern may have met their match in Simeone’s steely Atletico Madrid
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Bayern Munich squeezed past Benfica in the Champions League quarter-finals but may find Diego Simeone’s wily and well-organised Atletico Madrid side too tough to handle at the Vicente Calderon.
The Colchoneros have conceded just five times in 10 European games this season, and just 16 goals in 35 La Liga fixtures, stats which may force Pep Guardiola to rethink Bayern’s usual gung-ho attacking style.
Bayern have admittedly been dominant in this season’s Bundesliga, and boast the striking prowess of Robert Lewandowski, who has netted 38 times in 45 games for Die Roten this season.
But Barcelona boast the MSN strikeforce, who have struck an astonishing 123 times this season, including more than a goal a game for Uruguayan hitman Luis Suarez. How many did they manage to score at Atleti earlier this month? Zero.
Right now, Simeone’s men are probably the best defensive unit in world football, and as with Leicester City in England, the sum of Atleti’s parts is far greater than their individual players.
In the pressure-cooker atmosphere of a Champions League semi-final, having a team with such a superb understanding and solid base can be an absolutely crucial factor.
Antoine Griezmann, meanwhile, has hit form lately with eight goals in 11 games for the Rojiblancos.
While that isn’t quite Lewandowski-level ruthlessness, the Frenchman offers an increasingly prolific outlet for the likes of Diego Godin, Felipe Luis and Gabi, who are second-to-none at breaking up play.
Bayern Munich are 6/4 to win here, but the best value seems to be with Simeone’s side at 19/10.
They’ve notched up 17 wins in their last 20 league games and have already dispatched hugely attacking sides like Barca and PSV Eindhoven in the knockouts.
So, the odds of an Atleti win tonight, and of the Colchoneros reaching the final (13/8) could prove very popular.
We’re offering a pair of sensational price boosts, whichever side you’re backing.
Antoine Griezmann to score and Atletico Madrid to win NOW 5/1 (was 10/3)
Robert Lewandowski to score and Bayern Munich to win NOW 4/1 (was 3/1)
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
