RB Leipzig v Atletico Madrid: Champions League prediction & free tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for RB Leipzig v Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals on Thursday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8pm Thursday

Best bet

Atletico Madrid
1pt 27-20 bet365

Team news

RB Leipzig
Julian Nagelsmann has no injuries or suspensions to contend with although he will have to decide who will start up front now Timo Werner has left the club for Chelsea. Patrik Schick is expected to get the nod up front.

Atletico Madrid
Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko tested positive for coronavirus at the weekend and both will miss the clash as they go into self-isolation. Diego Simeone has an otherwise fully fit squad to choose from.

Match preview

Atletico Madrid will be feeling confident of reaching a fourth Champions League semi-final in seven years when they take on RB Leipzig at the Estadio José Alvalade in Lisbon on Thursday night.

Diego Simeone's men have already shown their prowess in this year's tournament, finishing second in a group that included Juventus, Bayer Leverkusen and Lokomotiv Moscow before knocking out holders Liverpool in the last 16.

Atleti are on an 18-game unbeaten run in all competitions heading into Thursday's contest and they managed to finish third in La Liga, securing their place in next season's Champions League.

This is technically an away game for both teams as it is being played in Portugal, but that shouldn't be a problem for Madrid as they haven't lost in their last nine matches on the road while they beat Liverpool 3-2 the last time they travelled in Europe.

Leipzig will be no pushovers and they showed their class in the last round when dispatching Tottenham 4-0 on aggregate, but the departure of Timo Werner to Chelsea is a massive blow.

The Germany international scored 34 times this season, accounting for around a third of the club's total goals, and the current attacking options may find it difficult to break down a solid Atletico defence.

Leipzig did plunder 81 goals in the Bundesliga this season – bettered only by Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund – but the loss of Werner can’t be stressed enough going into the contest.

Although impressive going forward, the German outfit are susceptible at the back. They shipped 41 goals in the league, while they have recorded just one shutout in their last seven matches.

It can also be argued that Leipzig may not be up to full speed, having last played a competitive match on June 27, and that could really work against them.

Simeone is often a master tactician when it comes to these knockout matches and it will be desperately hard to break down Atletico, who have kept three clean sheets in their last five outings, and backing an Atletico victory looks the best betting option.

Key stat

Atletico Madrid have kept two clean sheets in their previous three Champions League matches

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