After reviewing the Champions League quarterfinal matchup for Tuesday, it’s time to dig in for the ones on Wednesday. Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich will steal most of the headlines, but we can’t forget about Atletico Madrid and Leicester. The Colchoneros are the UCL runner-up, and the Foxes are the EPL champs. Both deserve some props.
Here are the Wednesday Champions League Predictions:
Leicester City at Atletico Madrid
- When: Wednesday, April 12, 2017
- Where: Vicente Calderon Stadium, Spain
- Champions League Odds: Leicester City +1000 vs Atletico Madrid -335, Draw +290
- Handicap: Atletico Madrid -1.5
- Game Total: 2.5
The least attractive matchup of the Champions League quarterfinals will have two overachieving teams trying to get to the semifinals. Although Atletico Madrid has been to two of the last three finals, they should always be considered overachievers. Atletico fights and defends like no one else, but offensively they are far from impressive. Leicester City, on the other hand, is playing in their first UCL tournament. If somehow they managed to get to the semis it would be a crazy run.
When we discussed the Champions League quarterfinals matchups, we saw the online bookie software put Atletico Madrid 1/6 to advance while Leicester City was listed 7/2 to pull an upset.
Atletico Madrid will get to this game with one more day of rest. They drew against Real Madrid (1-1) on Saturday during the Madrid derby. The ‘Colchoneros’ have eight games without losing in all competitions. They have five wins and three draws during that span.
The sports bookie software made Atletico the favorite to beat Bayer Leverkusen in the Round of 16. The Spaniard won comfortably away from home (2-4) and then dialed down at home with a draw (0-0). Atletico has made a living of these matchups. Since coach Diego Simeone took the job, it’s hard to eliminate them in a two-leg series.
Leicester City faced Everton on Sunday. The still EPL Champs focused on their Champions League run and left behind the Premier League. The Foxes got here by upsetting another Spanish team in the Round of 16, Sevilla.
Leicester lost the first leg in Sevilla (1-2) only to beat the Spaniard in the second leg (2-0). The best pay per head bookie services didn’t see this one coming. Most were expecting Sevilla to win and advance against an inexperienced Leicester squad.
For this meeting, in particular, Leicester needs to display something better than what they showed in the four away from home games they have played in the UCL. They have earned one win against Club Brugge (0-3), one draw vs. FC Copenhagen (0-0) and two losses against FC Porto (5-0) and Sevilla.
Playing at home has seen Atletico Madrid nearly perfection. They beat Bayern Munich (1-0), FK Rostov (2-1) and PSV (2-0) during the group stage. The scoreless draw against Bayer Leverkusen was just a chance to manage a result they already conquer in the first leg.
This meeting will be the fifth-time Leicester and Atletico Madrid in an European competition, but it is the first time they met in the Champions League. Atletico leads the series with three wins, one draw and no losses. In fact, two of Leicester’s three previous European campaigns were ended in the hands of the Colchoneros.
To make it worst for Leicester, Atletico has never lost at home to an English opposition. They have five wins and five draws in those meetings.
Champions League Predictions: Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid at Bayern Munich
- When: Wednesday, April 12, 2017
- Where: Allianz Arena, Germany
- Champions League Odds: Real Madrid +350 at Bayern Munich -130, Draw +290
- Handicap: Bayern Munich -0.5
- Game Total: 3
We have seen Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich played many of times, and they always deliver prolific performances regards of the round they clash. For a place in the semifinals, Real Madrid was listed 6/5 by the pph service to advance, and Bayern Munich is at 8/13.
These are two of three main favorites to win it all. Since the start of the tournament, Munich and Madrid were in a class by themselves. Among them is FC Barcelona. If any of these three teams win the title, no one would be shocked.
Bayern Munich got to this point after eliminating Arsenal with a 10-2 overall result. Although Bayern finished second in the group stage behind Atletico Madrid, their playing style sees no difference when they play at home or away. That’s why it was easy for them to crush Arsenal in Munich and London. They didn’t find any difference.
The Bavarians have 16 straight UEFA Champions League wins at home. This season alone they took down FK Rostov (5-0), PSV (4-1) and Atletico Madrid (1-0) during the group stage. The round of 16 saw Bayern destroyed Arsenal (5-1) in the first leg.
The last team won who beat Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League was precisely Real Madrid in the 2013-2014 semifinals. Madrid won 0-4 in that matchup. But then Carlo Ancelotti was Madrid’s coach while Pep Guardiola was with Bayern. Ancelotti is now ahead of Munich, and Pep is with Manchester City.
The meeting will also have a master vs. alum kind of feeling. Ancelotti coached now Madrid’s coach Zinedine Zidane at Juventus during the late 90’s. Zidane was Ancelotti’s assistant when they beat Bayern in 2014.
Real Madrid eliminated Napoli in the Round of 16 with a 6-2 overall result. The Spanish won both meeting 3-1 and advanced without any problems. Like Bayern, they also ended in a second place in the group stage, but it didn’t matter much.
Madrid has a 2-0-2 record on the road this season. They drew against Borussia Dortmund (2-2) and Legia (3-3) in the first two meetings. They beat Sporting (1-2) and Napoli (1-3) in the next two. The Merengues, however, are coming off a 1-1 draw against Atletico Madrid in La Liga. They lost defender Pepe due to two crack ribs. He scored the goal during the weekend matchup against the Colchoneros.
Bayern Munich will also have some missing pieces for this first meeting. Manuel Neuer, who is out after minor foot surgery, has yet to train according to some reports. It’s unlikely he plays this game. Defender Mats Hummels suffered an injury on Sunday. One day after they beat Borussia Dortmund (4-1) during their weekend Bundesliga fixture.
Despite the absents, I have the home team winning the first leg as favorites by the bookmaker software. It should be a great match.
Champions League Predictions: Bayern Munich.