Champions League: Big Guns Aim to Shake Off Domestic Wobbles

Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United

According to the SBOTOP Champions League 2022 betting odds, Atletico Madrid and Manchester United are ranked as 10^th and seventh favourites to win the trophy this season.

In other words, they are Champions League outsiders.

And given they are placed fifth and fourth, respectively, in their domestic leagues, then who I am to argue.

Yet no side left them in the competition should take either Atletico Madrid or Manchester United for granted, even accounting for their largely miserable runs so far this term.

What’s more, with this tournament proving their only remaining option for silverware in 2021/22, these two legs should be played in front of both expectant and vocal crowds inside the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium and Old Trafford over the next three weeks.

Talking Points

The Champions League so often inspires players and fans alike, and there are plenty of matchwinners on both sides.

Both teams showed some of their potential at the weekend.

Atletico won emphatically at Osasuna in what a display that was a timely reminder of the quality at Diego Simeone’s disposal as João Félix scored and assisted Luis Suarez before Angel Correa rounded off the win with his 12th goal of the campaign.

Meanwhile, United scored four and showed plenty of character to win in the hostile cauldron that was Elland Road and Leeds United.

There is mixed news on the availability front for Simeone with Yannick Carrasco missing out due to suspension and Matheus Cunha and Daniel Wass sidelined through injury.

Thomas Lemar also faces a fitness battle to feature. Reports suggest Lemar was unable to train over the weekend after missing out against Osasuna, as he came into close contact with a positive Covid-19 test.

On a brighter note for the hosts, Antoine Griezmann should be back.

For United, interim boss Ralf Rangnick praised his side’s resolve after that triumph at Leeds and is likely to recall Diogo Dalot in favour of Aaron Wan-Bissaka at right-back with England international Marcus Rashford set to replace Jesse Lingard in attack.

I suspect former Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane will also return to the starting line-up in a city very familiar to him, as it is to one man who has created more Champions League 2022 highlights than any other footballer on the planet.

Atletico will certainly not relish facing Cristiano Ronaldo, who was the key man for United in the group stages with six goals and who has a formidable record against Simeone, with 25 goals in 35 games as a Real player.

It should also be an emotional return for United shot-stopper David de Gea.

I had forgotten he came through the ranks at Atlético and went on to play 84 games for the club in all competitions, including eight in their victorious Europa League campaign in 2009/10, before moving to Manchester in the summer of 2011.

A word of warning for the visitors though: Atletico have been victorious in nine of their 12 two-legged knockout contests against English teams, last season’s aggregate defeat by Chelsea ending a run of five successive victories – only Derby County (1974/75 UEFA Cup) and Bolton Wanderers (2007/08 UEFA Cup) have previously eliminated them.

All the ingredients are in place for a spectacle.

History

The two sides have only met twice before and that was 30 years ago when Atletico ended United’s defence of the European Cup Winners’ Cup at the second-round stage in 1991/92.

Then the Spanish side seized control of the contest with a 3-0 first-leg win in Madrid with Paulo Futre opening the scoring before two late goals from Futre and Manolo gave United a mountain to climb.

Mark Hughes gave the Red Devils hope of a comeback four minutes into the Old Trafford return, but the home side were unable to add to that goal and Bernd Schuster settled the contest with a 68th-minute equaliser to seal a 4-1 aggregate success.

Betting Tip

	Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United	Over 2.50 Goals @ 2.28
	February 24, 04:00 (GMT+8)

Atletico are favourites with our betting odds.

They are priced 1X2 @ 2.36 and Asian Handicap -0.50 @ 2.36.

United, by contrast, can be tipped 1X2 @ 3.05 and Asian Handicap 0.00 @ 2.28.

The draw is on offer @ 3.15.

If Atletico are going to run out convincing winners again, just as in 1991, then Correct Score 3-0 will pay out @ 26.00.

A tight contest is expected given the odds of total goal 0-1 @ 2.67.

I do expect this to be close without too many goals, yet with the ‘away goals rule’ now no longer in place then it may be slightly more open.

I am plumping for a three-star prediction of over 2.50 goals @ 2.28.

 

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