Atletico Madrid has their backs against the wall on Wednesday afternoon. Diego Simeone’s Atleti entered the Champions League as the clear favorite to win Group B. Still, the Mattress Makers have stumbled to a 1-1-2 (W-D-L) start and now need a win against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday to have a legitimate chance at qualifying for the Round of 16.
Leverkusen is also in a must-win spot to keep their Champions League hopes alive.
Atleti are a -140 favorite to get the win over Leverkusen at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday.
New to betting? Also read: How to bet on Soccer
Get a $50 Bonus Bet + up to $1K Back in Bonus Bets! with code NPBONUS50
21+. New customers only. AZ, CO, CT, IA, IL, IN, MI, NJ, PA, TN, VA, WV only. Tu0026amp;C apply
First bet up To $1,250 On Caesars
New players only, 21+. Available in AZ, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MI, NJ, NY, TN, VA, WV only. Full T&C apply.
Get a No Sweat First Bet up to $1000!
New users only, 21 or older. Available in AZ, CT, CO, IA, IL, IN, KS, LA, MD, MI, NJ, NY, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY only. Full T&C apply.
- Check out more of the Best Sportsbook Promo Codes
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Atletico Madrid prediction
Perhaps no team in the European Football does a do-or-die spot quite like Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. An absolute bear to play against, Atleti is never shy about their willingness to do whatever it takes to survive and advance. That reputation is well-earned and oftentimes criticized, but it’s worked for the club over the last decade. Atletico have made two Champions League finals and three semi-finals and has only been knocked out in the group stage once in nine campaigns under Simeone.
When they’re at their best, Atletico Madrid are able to set up defensively and find the right time to punish their opponents on the counter-attack. It may not be the most aesthetically pleasing style of soccer, but it’s worked for Atletico in Simeone’s 11-year spell. And it’s hard to imagine a better stylistic matchup than taking on a Bundesliga side that needs to go for broke.
While Atleti’s defensive numbers aren’t up to their usual standards this season, they should be able to handle what Leverkusen throws at them and take advantage of a defense that ranks third-to-last in both goals and expected goals allowed in the Bundesliga.
Leverkusen play a high-event style of soccer — their 3.55 total goals per match is the third-highest in Germany’s top division — and that should suit Atleti, who do their best work against teams that play a free-flowing, open style of soccer. There should be plenty of space and opportunity for Atletico Madrid to spring counter-attacks against a leaky, mistake-prone team.
This spot is what Simeone and Atletico are built for. They’re at home in front of their raucous fans, they need to win and they’ll be taking on an opponent that has to take risks.
There should be plenty of chances for Atletico to get on the board and cover the -1.5 spread on Wednesday.
Bayer Leverkusen vs. Atletico Madrid pick
Atletico Madrid -1.5 (+195, BetMGM)