Champions League: Can Atleti Get The Job Done In Turin?

Champions League: Can Atleti Get The Job Done In Turin?

Juventus vs Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid head to northern Italy to face Juventus on Tuesday night, and a win will see them through to the last 16 of the Champions League.

That is easily said, but Atleti boss Diego Simeone knows the reality of beating the Italian champions on their own turf is a mammoth task. It’s the tie of the week and Maurizio Sarri will set his Juventus team up to keep Atletico at a distance, even though his side is already through to the last 16.

Both teams could go a long way in the competition. Juventus are fifth favourites at odds of 9.00 in the latest Champions League 2019 betting odds here at SBOBET while Atletico Madrid is out at 20.00 as a likely quarter finalist.

The La Liga team will be keen to get the job done at the Juventus Stadium, and exact some revenge, after they were beaten on this ground to go out of the 2018/19 Champions League.

Talking Points

Juve clicking through the gears

Inter Milan set a scorching pace at the beginning of the Serie A season but Maurizio Sarri’s side didn’t panic. Why would they? Having won a record eight Scudettos they strengthened again in the summer, and they are now leading the way domestically, a point ahead of Inter and ten ahead of third placed Lazio.

The Old Lady has won many a two horse race in recent years, mainly against Napoli, and while Antonio Conte’s Inter is ready for a fight I’m not betting against a ninth successive Scudetto heading to Turin.

The defensive partnership of Leonardo Bonucci and Matthijs de Ligt is by far the best in the league, with just ten goals conceded so far, and Bonucci has signed a new contract which keeps him at the club until 2024.

The midfield three of Miralem Pjanic, Sami Khedira and Rodrigo Bentancur is beautifully balanced, and with Blaise Matuidi pushing for a place and Aaron Ramsay coming back to fitness there is plenty of back-up.

I Bianconeri put in a performance befitting champions in a 1-3 win away to Atalanta at the weekend as Gonzalo Higuain hit the target twice and Paulo Dybala was also on the score sheet. Juventus responded to going a goal down early in the second half by dismantling the Atalanta defence with ruthless efficiency.

That made it five wins on the bounce for I Bianconeri.

Los Rojiblancos

Atleti warmed up for this game with an away trip to Granada in La Liga, emerging with a 1-1 draw. Simeone’s campaign is built on solid defence again; having conceded just nine goals so far, as his teams sits three points behind Barcelona and Real Madrid in the La Liga table.

Mario Hermoso and Felipe Monteiro are proving to be a sound partnership at the heart of Atletico’s defence while Kieran Trippier has settled well at right back. Simeone’s side could do with a result in Turin, and preferably a win. When the Champions League 2019 results roll in on Tuesday, if the other Group D clash between Bayer Leverkusen and Locomotiv Moscow produces a positive result, Atleti could go into the final game with just a one point cushion.

Alvaro Morata is Atleti’s top scorer in La Liga with five to his name, and he has two in the Champions League so he represents the best chance of a Rojiblancos win, while Joao Felix and Vitolo will also try to stretch Juve’s rock solid rearguard.

History

In the six games played between these two European giants, over the past five seasons, the La Liga side has come out on top; winning three, drawing two and losing one, but what a big one that was. Going into a Round of 16 second leg clash against Juve in last season’s competition, Los Rojiblancos had a two goal lead, but were beaten 3-2 on aggregate as Cristiano Ronaldo stole the show with a stunning hat-trick.

So revenge will be in mind, as well as qualification.

But the visitors will have to pull off a rare result. Juventus haven’t lost in their last 18 games and are unbeaten in 11 at home.

Betting Tip

Under 2.25 @ 1.86

This is a clash of two of the toughest teams in Europe, both with a combination of well drilled defence and a seriously sharp cutting edge.

Juventus are favourites at odds of 2.14, with Atleti at 3.40 and the draw at 3.20.

I think the defences will be in charge, and Simeone will be prepared to stay in the game until late on before aiming to strike a killer blow. His opposite number won’t be giving anything away cheaply either.

1-1 is the most likely score at 5.60, and neither defence will be particularly happy with that!

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

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