Atletico Madrid doesn't play the sexiest variety of soccer on the planet, but that isn't stopping it from being the fourth favorite to win the Champions League. The draw for the last 16 could've been more difficult, but going to Dutch soil to take on PSV Eindhoven is never an easy task.
Soccer Odds at BookMaker.eu
PSV Eindhoven +380
Atletico Madrid -120
Draw +245
Over/Under 2 (over -140)
ODDS ANALYSIS
We've seen Atletico Madrid rock teams to sleep time and time again with a very slow pace of play, and that might end up being the case again in this match. The oddsmakers are expecting a low-scoring effort with a total of just 2 and -140 vig on the over, but even that might end up being too high.
A 1-0 score in favor of the Spaniards is clearly the favored result here, and that's why the Atleti are set at -120, making this a de facto 50/50 proposition to either get a win or have PSV get something out of this match.
KEY INJURIES
The big injury of note here in this tie is that to Andres Guardado. The Mexican midfielder was originally slated to miss this match when he suffered a hamstring injury at the end of January, but his recovery has been quicker than expected, and he could be back as soon as Wednesday for PSV. If not, Eindhoven's midfield is certainly weakened drastically, and that could give Atletico Madrid an even greater share of the ball.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"I would have liked to win the game, we tried to go for three points, but Villarreal have one of the best defenses and counterattack well. We couldn't risk much before PSV." – Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone on a drab goalless draw against Villarreal over the weekend just three days before this match against PSV
RECENT FORM
PSV hasn't dropped a single point in the Dutch Eredivise since December 12, and it has outscored its last three foes by the combined score of 7-0. In the UCL, the Dutch side showed its dominance at home, beating out all three of Manchester United, CSKA Moscow and Wolfsburg.
Things haven't been great for the Atleti of late. They drew at home against Villarreal in a horrible offensive display, and they're now just 2-3-2 in their last seven matches overall across all competitions. Here in the Champions League, Atletico Madrid had no problems against a weak group featuring Galatarsaray, FC Astana and Benfica, though it should be noted that lowly Astana did hold it to a scoreless draw.
ANALYSIS AND ODDS PREDICTION
You just get the feeling here that there might only be a couple goals to talk about over the course of the whole 180 minutes in these two legs. Both of these teams are great at the back, and neither one really commits a heck of a lot forward.
For Atletico Madrid, it'll be up to Antoine Griezmann and Fernando Torres to make the most of their opportunities. PSV will be counting on Luuk de Jong, who leads the team with 19 goals to make some headway.
That said, we can't see either side really getting a heck of a lot of the ball. Winning here at PSV is a very tough task, and Atletico Madrid very well could be held. If this match ends up scoreless, expect to see a very gritty affair back on Spanish soil in the second leg, as an away goal for Eindhoven could end up pulling off the shocker.
PSV Eindhoven 0, Atletico Madrid 0
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BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The fixture between PSV Eindhoven and Atletico Madrid will take place on Wednesday, February 24, 2016, at 2:45 p.m. at Philips Stadion. The game will be broadcast live on FOX Sports 2.
