Reigning Champions League title holders, Real Madrid, take a slender 2-1 lead across town to the Wanda Metropolitano for a round of 16 second leg clash with Atletico Madrid, with the winner set to take on Arsenal in the quarter-final.
Match Odds
Prediction
Atletico may have had one eye on this win-or-bust return leg when they let slip a late lead to lose at Getafe in La Liga over the weekend, yet Diego Simeone’s side is one of few teams capable of pulling off the needed result to defeat Real Madrid.
That said, the Real Madrid Champions League aura is real and it will be like taking a mountain down to come from behind and get past Los Blancos to the last eight. That’s why we have our money on Real Madrid to win or draw.
Form
A. Madrid’s last 5 games in all competitions – W D W L L
R. Madrid’s last 5 games in all competitions – W W L W W
Team News
Thibaut Courtois and Antonio Rudiger are in contention to feature against Atletico, having missed the narrow win over Rayo Vallecano over the weekend with a ‘small problem’ and a flu respectively. Kylian Mbappe is a slight doubt, though, after being spotted having a separate session during training.
Koke remains out while Rodrigo De Paul and Clement Lenglet are 50/50 for Atletico. Cesar Azpilicueta has returned from a knock, and Angel Correa is available after getting sent off in the league at the weekend.