Atletico Madrid hosts Manchester United in the first leg of the Champions League 1/8 finals. The match will be played on Wednesday, February 23rd at Wanda Metropolitano (Madrid)
Diego Simeone's team started the fight in the tournament from the group stage. Atletico Madrid finished in 2nd place in Group B, earning seven points in matches against Liverpool (2-3 and 0-2), FC Porto (0-0 and 3-1), and AC Milan (2-3 and 0-1). The Mattress Makers have been volatile lately. They alternate unsuccessful matches with bright victories, which is why they cannot rise above 5th place in the La Liga standings so far. They may lose even to a weak opponent, which was shown by the last home match against the worst team of the championship, Levante (0-1). Angry with that failure, Atletico Madrid hammered Osasuna on February 19 (0-3). Joao Felix, Luis Suarez, and Angel Correa scored a goal each, and the Mattress Makers kept a clean sheet for the first time in six rounds.
| 2 x £10 Free Bet | Review | |||
| 100$-500$ for No Lose Free Bets | Review | |||
| 100% up to £200 | Review | |||
| Not available | Review |
Manchester United started its performance in the Champions League in Group F. The Mancunians earned 11 points and advanced to the playoffs from the first line. Let’s recall that they competed with Villarreal (2-1 and 2-0), Atalanta (3-2, 2-2), and Young Boys (1-2 and 1-1). On paper, Manchester United is performing well in the Premier League. The Red Devils are on a streak of seven rounds without defeat, and they earned 15 points during this period. However, the quality of the team’s game is far from ideal. Manchester United conceded at least once in five out of seven games and often scored points due to the individual qualities of the team leaders. On February 20, the Mancunians broke the resistance of their bitter rival Leeds at Elland Road (2-4). They conceded more than one goal for the first time in six rounds, but earned 3 points thanks to goals from Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Fred, and Anthony Elanga.
Atlético Madrid cannot boast of an excellent defensive game. The Indians conceded 34 goals in 25 rounds of the current Spanish championship, and five consecutive Champions League games ended without clean sheets. Before the game with Osasuna, they allowed their opponents to score in seven official matches. Manchester United also has problems in defense. The Red Devils may make blunders in their penalty area, and we saw that in the match against Leeds, in which they conceded two goals in two minutes. It is also worth noting that the Mancunians did not keep a clean sheet in five out of six matches in the Champions League group stage. Given the above problems in defense and a large number of experienced players in the attack of both teams, it is logical to bet on an exchange of goals scored.
Prediction for the match: Both teams to score — yes
