Bayer Leverkusen will try to make history when they host Atletico Madrid on Wednesday in the last-16 round of the Champions League as they never won a tie at this stage before. They have reached the final in 2002 but the competition format was different back then as it included a second group stage. Leverkusen have won three of their last four games at home in the Champions League but lost their last four ties over two legs against Spanish opponents.
Leverkusen finished second behind Monaco in Group C, probably the weakest group in this season's competition. In the domestic league they have pretty much struggled so far, they are currently sixth with 33 points in 22 games. Atletico have reached the quarter finals of the Champions League six times before and they made it to the final last season but got defeated by city rivals Real Madrid. Atletico have lost just one of their last nine away matches in the Champions League but their record against Bundesliga sides is not that good: five wins, three draws and seven losses.
Leverkusen will be without suspended Omer Toprak while Robbie Kruse and Lars Bender are expected to miss out through injury. Atletico will have to do without midfielder Koke but there are no other injury concerns for head coach Diego Simeone. The two teams have last met in the group stages of the Europa League in 2010 and both matches ended 1-1.
Probable line-ups:
Leverkusen: Leno - Castro, Reinartz, Papadopoulos, Wendell - Brandt, Calhanoglu, Rolfes, Bellerabi - Son, Drmic
Atletico: Oblak - Juanfran, Godin, Miranda, Siqueira - Gabi, Tiago, Garcia - Turan, Mandzukic, Griezmann
My prediction: Atletico to win 1-0.
Here are the odds for the match at Bet365:
Leverkusen win - 11/5 Draw - 11/5 Atletico win - 6/4
vlado.mikic.50 9 years ago
In this match everyone could see a classic example of German mentality.They fought till the end even if their were huge underdogs.Leverkusen made big success this season in their campaign in Champions League,they have no pressure in next matches and that is their biggest advantage.
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kruno1414 9 years ago
A big suprise happened in Germany , but well deserved suprise because Leverkusen played a great match , they played style that aTletico plays against the stronger teams and they got what they wanted scored a goal , and didn't concede one which is very important. After that red card i thought they could score one more but...
A big suprise happened in Germany , but well deserved suprise because Leverkusen played a great match , they played style that aTletico plays against the stronger teams and they got what they wanted scored a goal , and didn't concede one which is very important. After that red card i thought they could score one more but they must be happy with things like this . Atletico is still a favourite thats for sure , but Leverkusen showed they can made things messy :)
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vlado.mikic.50 9 years ago
I am surprised with the fact that Atetico Madrid lost in Germany.They usually manage not to loose in this kind of clashes.Still they remain favourites here,they have more quality than Bayer,but of course it wont be easy when thay have to start with a one goal minus.I think Simeone will be the difference that would help...
I am surprised with the fact that Atetico Madrid lost in Germany.They usually manage not to loose in this kind of clashes.Still they remain favourites here,they have more quality than Bayer,but of course it wont be easy when thay have to start with a one goal minus.I think Simeone will be the difference that would help Atletico to get through.
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mdacic 9 years ago
I didn't expect from Bayer Leverkusen to play like this and win. They played very well and they could score more goals. The important thing for them is that they didn't concede goal at home and if they score in Madrid i think that they will go in next round. Atletico didn't played well, and they must be happy with this...
I didn't expect from Bayer Leverkusen to play like this and win. They played very well and they could score more goals. The important thing for them is that they didn't concede goal at home and if they score in Madrid i think that they will go in next round. Atletico didn't played well, and they must be happy with this result. Nothing is over yet but i think that Bayer is in better situation.
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h34dhunt3r 9 years ago
Good match ahead of us. Both teams are playing well this season, and both have real chances of qualifing into next round. Torres and Mandzukic might be too much for Bayer Leverkusen's defence to handle, but we will see. That's the reason why I'm giving Atletiko Madrid higher chances of going into quater finals. Leverkusen...
Good match ahead of us. Both teams are playing well this season, and both have real chances of qualifing into next round. Torres and Mandzukic might be too much for Bayer Leverkusen's defence to handle, but we will see. That's the reason why I'm giving Atletiko Madrid higher chances of going into quater finals. Leverkusen has been playing well first half of the season, but lately, when it's most important, they had some issues. From 2nd to 6th place in Bundesliga in notime says everything itself. My prediction: 1-1 tomorrow night and 1-3 overall for Atletico Madrid. Hope germans prove me wrong, so we can enjoy some intense football folks.
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seculla 9 years ago
This will be tough match, but knowing Atletico Madrid's coach Diego Simeone, I'm pretty sure that he have some "ace in his pocket" and he will know how to set up his players to go through this 1/8 final. Bayer Leverkusen have a good team, but I'm not so sure that they have enough strenght and experience to deal with last...
This will be tough match, but knowing Atletico Madrid's coach Diego Simeone, I'm pretty sure that he have some "ace in his pocket" and he will know how to set up his players to go through this 1/8 final. Bayer Leverkusen have a good team, but I'm not so sure that they have enough strenght and experience to deal with last year's finalists. I think that Atletico Madrid will go to 1/4 finals, but as sharpe said, everything is possible.
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sharpe 9 years ago
I think everything is possible in this game because both of these teams are capable of surprising performances. Of course Atletico Madrid is the favorite to reach the quarter finals in the tournament and with coach like Diego Simeone who proofs for the last 2 or 3 seasons that he is amongst top coaches in the world, they...
I think everything is possible in this game because both of these teams are capable of surprising performances. Of course Atletico Madrid is the favorite to reach the quarter finals in the tournament and with coach like Diego Simeone who proofs for the last 2 or 3 seasons that he is amongst top coaches in the world, they could be in the final stages in the champions league for yet another season.
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mdacic 9 years ago
Atletico Madrid knows how to play on result. Often they don;t play well but result is always good. They are big favorites here and I think that they will go in next round. They have great defense and I think that Bayer Leverkusen can't score in thin match against great defens of Atletico. I predict match with small number...
Atletico Madrid knows how to play on result. Often they don;t play well but result is always good. They are big favorites here and I think that they will go in next round. They have great defense and I think that Bayer Leverkusen can't score in thin match against great defens of Atletico. I predict match with small number of goals and win for Atletico.
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