Liverpool are well on their way to winning their first Premier League title in club history, and they now have their eyes set on a second straight Champions League title. They ran the gauntlet to win the title last year, surviving a group that included Paris Saint-Germain and Napoli before sending Bayern Munich, Porto, Barcelona, and finally Tottenham out in the knockout rounds. The Reds won their group to earn a date with Atletico Madrid in the Round of 16, but it’s never easy to send Diego Simeone’s team out of this competition with the way Atletico play defense.
Don't miss the Champions League action from the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain at 3 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 18, 2020. Catch every moment of the match live on TNT.
Champions League Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Atletico Madrid +232
Liverpool +118
Draw +234
Over/Under 2 and 2.5
Odds Analysis
Atletico Madrid have seen their season derailed by injury. They are tied for fourth place in La Liga as their three best offensive weapons have all missed multiple matches, and they drew the short straw by having to face Liverpool in the Round of 16. This club allowed just five goals in the Group Stage and has only conceded 15 goals in 23 league matches, so the defense certainly gives them a chance. However, the lack of a reliable attack has kept this club from challenging Barcelona and Real Madrid in domestic action.
No team has been more impressive than Liverpool over the last year. The Reds haven’t lost a Premier League match since January 3, 2019, and they have obliterated the competition in England. Jurgen Klopp’s club is 24-1-0, and they have been incredibly well-rounded this campaign. They have only conceded 15 goals in 25 league matches, and their 22-point lead ensures that the waiting for a domestic title at Anfield will soon end.
Key Injuries
Dario Poveda was lost for the season in early December, and Kieran Trippier was declared out for the next two months early last week. Those are the only two long-term injuries for Atletico Madrid, but an additional eight players are on the injury report. Koke, Hector Herrera, Alvaro Morata, Joao Felix, and Thomas Lemar are all questionable, and the latter three absences would be massive. Simeone is hopeful that Diego Costa, Jose Maria Gimenez, and Santiago Arias will be ready to go after missing multiple matches in the last few weeks.
Nathaniel Clyne and Yasser Larouci are both long-term injuries for Liverpool. Defensive midfielders James Milner and Xherdan Shaqiri are questionable to play after going down with injuries last month, while Sadio Mane is listed as probable to take the pitch.
Matchup to Watch
These clubs boast arguably the two best goalkeepers in the world. Jan Oblak has been fantastic for Atletico Madrid since he was acquired in 2014. Oblak has allowed fewer goals than any other goalkeeper in La Liga over the past four seasons, and he has been named the best goalkeeper in Spain for the last four years too. Meanwhile, Alisson has turned a corner this season for Liverpool, helping this team become unstoppable. He has surrendered just one goal in Liverpool’s last 10 league matches, and his play has been pivotal in making Liverpool the best team in England.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
The best play in this game is the under. Both back lines are fantastic, and both Klopp and Simeone are focused on defense. A scoreless draw certainly isn’t out of the question, but my pick is Liverpool due to Atletico’s injury woes. A win for the Reds would make the second leg of this tie in Anfield that much easier for the defending champions.
Champions League Odds: Liverpool 1, Atletico Madrid 0
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