Atletico Madrid vs Leverkusen Prediction - Champions League

The Champions League battle between Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen on 21 January 2025 at 20:00 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano promises to be an intriguing encounter. Both teams come into this match in good form—Atletico, despite a recent defeat to Leganes, boasted an impressive fifteen-match winning streak under Diego Simeone. Expect them to bounce back quickly.

Bayer Leverkusen, ranked second in the IFFHS 2024 ranking, are also in sizzling form, having won their last nine matches, including key victories over Inter Milan and Bayern Munich. Currently sitting fourth in their league standings compared to Atletico’s eleventh place, Leverkusen have shown they can challenge the best.

The bookmakers have tipped Atletico Madrid as favourites, but their recent struggle and Leverkusen’s resilience make it a tight contest. Indeed, more than 2.5 goals have been scored in all of Atletico Madrid’s matches in this tournament, indicating an exciting, high-scoring game might lie ahead.

Don’t be surprised if it ends in a draw, a recommendation supported by betting odds.

Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction & Betting Tip

Recommended Tip: This Champions League clash between Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen is set to be a nail-biter. Based on current form and available information, a draw seems like the most plausible outcome. Both teams have demonstrated the ability to challenge any opponent, and with their recent performances, it’s hard to favor one side over the other decisively.

• Three clean sheets in Atletico’s last five games reflect their defensive solidity, but Leverkusen’s attacking prowess, with an average of 2.80 goals in their last five matches, suggests there’s little to separate the two teams.
• Both teams have key players in top form; Florian Wirtz has netted five goals in six encounters, making it likely that neither team will outdo the other decisively.
• The fixture has seen more than 2.5 goals in all of Atletico’s tournament matches, which complements the balance of a possibility of an exciting match ending in a draw.

Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen Odds

Given the tight competition between Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen, the odds presented by bookmakers reflect the evenly matched nature of these two sides.

Atletico Madrid enters this match as a slight favorite with odds of 2.46 to win.
A draw stands at 3.26, which many predict could be the outcome given both teams’ recent form and strengths.
On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen is close behind with odds of 2.92, indicating this match could go either way.

Atletico Madrid Team Analysis

Atletico Madrid, coached by Diego Simeone, has shown recent solidity, winning four of their last five matches. They have kept three clean sheets in their last five games, indicating a better defensive unit. Their average goals scored stands at 1.60 per match, reflecting a balanced attack. However, their recent loss to Leganes, which halted their 15-match winning streak, serves as a reminder of the competitive nature of football. Despite this blip, their high-scoring prowess in tight contests cannot be underestimated, particularly in the crucial moments near the end of matches.

Atletico Madrid Key Players

Atletico Madrid’s expected lineup is packed with talent under the watchful eye of Diego Simeone:

• Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak
• Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Robin Le Normand, Clement Lenglet, Javi Galan
• Midfielders: Giuliano Simeone, Rodrigo De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Conor Gallagher
• Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Julian Alvarez

The team will look to Julian Alvarez, their top scorer with 4 goals, to make key contributions in attack. Antoine Griezmann, always a threat, will play a vital role alongside Alvarez to challenge Bayer Leverkusen’s defence. A key individual battle to watch is Alvarez against Edmond Tapsoba, Leverkusen’s best center-back. Breaking down their solid defending and leveraging key attacking moments will be crucial for Atletico’s victory aspirations.

Atletico Madrid Suspensions & Injuries

Atletico Madrid is facing several injury concerns ahead of their crucial Champions League clash against Bayer Leverkusen. Here is the current injury list and their potential return dates:

These injuries could significantly affect Diego Simeone’s ability to field his best XI. The absence of key defenders like Giménez and Lenglet could be particularly challenging, putting extra pressure on the remaining backline to deliver a solid performance against a high-flying Bayer Leverkusen side.

Atletico Madrid Tactics and Formation

Atletico Madrid Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 4-4-2
• Key Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Julián Álvarez
  • Griezmann, with his creative playmaking, complements Álvarez’s goal-scoring ability.
• Midfield Quartet: Giuliano Simeone, Rodrigo De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Conor Gallagher
  • De Paul anchors the midfield with his control and passing, while Barrios and Gallagher provide energy and box-to-box movement.
• Defensive Strength: Three clean sheets in the last five games
  • Jan Oblak’s goalkeeping and a disciplined backline featuring Nahuel Molina, Robin Le Normand, and Javi Galán.
• Notable Strategy: Strong finishers
  • Atletico Madrid tends to score most of their goals in the final 15 minutes of matches, leveraging their fitness and tactical pressing.

Atletico Madrid has a resilient strategy focused on maintaining solid defensive organization while launching quick counter-attacks, making them formidable opponents.

Bayer Leverkusen Team Analysis

Recent Form: WWWWW Bayer Leverkusen has been in stellar form, securing victories in their last five encounters, demonstrating both attacking and defensive prowess. Their recent fixtures reflect their dominance:

With an average of 2.8 goals scored per game and two clean sheets in the last five matches, Bayer Leverkusen’s form has been formidable. Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, the team’s quick offensive play combined with a solid defense makes them a challenging opponent for any team. Their consistency in front of goal and midfield led by Florian Wirtz ensure they remain a force to be reckoned with in the competition.

Bayer Leverkusen Key Players

Bayer Leverkusen boasts a wealth of talent, spearheaded by Florian Wirtz, who has been in scintillating form with 5 goals in 6 Champions League matches this season. His vision and creativity will be pivotal in breaking through Atletico Madrid’s defense.

Expected lineup for Bayer Leverkusen:

• Goalkeeper: Lukas Hradecky
• Defenders: Arthur, Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba, Alejandro Grimaldo
• Midfielders: Robert Andrich, Granit Xhaka, Nathan Tella, Florian Wirtz, Martin Terrier
• Forward: Patrik Schick

Key individual battles to watch include Patrik Schick against Atletico’s solid center-back pairing of Robin Le Normand and Clement Lenglet. If Leverkusen can win these duels, it will significantly boost their chances.

Bayer Leverkusen Suspensions & Injuries

Bayer Leverkusen Tactics and Formation

Bayer Leverkusen Tactical Breakdown:

• Formation: 3-4-2-1 Leverkusen has been employing a 3-4-2-1 formation recently, suggesting a balanced approach between attack and defence.
• Key Forward: Patrik Schick
  • Schick leads the attack, using his height and physicality to disrupt defences and score goals.
• Midfield and Wing Backs
  • Florian Wirtz and Nordi Mukiele are pivotal in providing creativity and support from the midfield.
  • Jeremie Frimpong and Alejandro Grimaldo on the wings offer width and speed, crucial for breaking down compact defences.
• Defensive Line and Stability
  • With Jonathan Tah potentially returning from a cold, the back three, including Edmond Tapsoba and Piero Hincapié, form a solid defensive wall.
• Strategy
  • Granit Xhaka will anchor the midfield, ensuring transitions from defence to attack are seamless.
  • Leverkusen tends to score heavily between the 31-45 and 61-75-minute intervals, using swift counter-attacks to overwhelm opponents.