Defense will be the watchword when Atletico Madrid and Juventus meet in the Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday. Atletico Madrid have one of the best back lines in the world, and they play a style that emphasizes their defense. Meanwhile, Juventus have been known for their defense for years, but they are opening things up on offense with the addition of Cristiano Ronaldo in the offseason. It will be interesting to see how they deploy on the road in this one.
The Champions League knockout stage is now underway, and you don’t want to miss any of this action. This game will take place at the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid, Spain at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday, February 20, 2019. It will be televised on TNT.
Champions League Betting Odds at BookMaker.eu
Atletico Madrid +177
Juventus +171
Draw +204
Over/Under 2
Odds Analysis
Juventus were a little disappointing in the group stage of the Champions League. Even though they won their group and won it pretty easily, they lost two games to teams that aren’t great, and that’s a worrying sign going forward. However, their play in Serie A has been sterling. They have yet to lose this season and they are already 11 points ahead of Napoli.
The last two weeks haven’t gone well for Atletico Madrid. Atletico were blanked by Real Betis two weeks ago, and they couldn’t beat rival Real Madrid at home last week. They seemed like they would be able to win their group, but a stunning 4-0 loss to Borussia Dortmund meant they had to play a group winner.
Key Injuries
There are three major injury concerns for Juventus ahead of this match. Two of their key defenders are unlikely to play as both captain Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci are dealing with injuries. Chiellini has a calf injury and Bonucci has an ankle injury, and both players have been out for the last two weeks. Forward Douglas Costa is questionable with a thigh injury.
Although they were hoping he would return in time for this match, Atletico won’t have Diego Costa available as he continues to recover from a broken toe. Stefan Savic has been declared out due to a strained hamstring, while Lucas Hernandez, Koke, and Gelson Martins are all questionable.
Matchup to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo has made Juventus much more dangerous on offense. He has paired well with Mario Mandzukic and former Real teammate Sami Khedira, and they are averaging more than two goals per game in domestic competitions. They have yet to have a lot of success in the Champions League though, netting just nine goals in their six Group Stage games.
Juventus are likely to have a tough time breaking through Atletico’s defense. Atletico are finally starting to get key defenders back in the lineup, and Diego Simone knows how to thwart an attack with his tactics. Diego Godin and Jose Maria Gimenez are the lynchpins in the back, and their play will be essential.
Prop Bet – Under 2 and 2.5 -147
The inability of Juventus to really have success against Valencia and Manchester United looms large in my head coming into this match. Their attack has not been successful as it should be given their talent, and Ronaldo’s proclivity to constantly shoot may have had an adverse effect on the rest of the team. I think Atletico will use this to their advantage.
Free Soccer Betting Pick
Atletico would love to get a win at home to make their job easier on the return leg, but I don’t think it’s in the cards. I see Atletico opening the scoring with a goal on the counter, and Juventus will put pressure on the back line that will eventually break it. The draw and the under are good plays for Wednesday night’s game.
Champions League Odds: Atletico Madrid 1, Juventus 1
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