Atletico’s Unbeaten Start on the Line

Champions League | Preview

27/09/17

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There are some mouth-watering ties to look forward in the second round of Champions League fixtures this week. One of them sees Atletico Madrid welcome Chelsea to the Estadio Wanda Metropolitano.

As soon the group stages were drawn, this was always going to be the pick of the Group C fixtures. With Roma, who are hoping to get involved in the qualification process and Qarabag, who may have a say in things when playing at home, neither team can afford to drop points.

Atletico Madrid started their Champions League campaign in Rome and came away with a 0-0 draw. The Spanish club, who have finished runners-up in two of the last four Champions League tournaments were the better team but could not find the breakthrough.

Chelsea cruised through their first match in Group C, comfortably defeating Qarabag 6-0 at Stamford Bridge. However, both Atletico Madrid and Roma will expect to pick up maximum points against the club from Azerbaijan and the hard work for Chelsea starts now.

Trends show Atletico Madrid are unbeaten this season and have they won four and drawn three of their seven games in all competitions. Following the 0-0 draw with Roma in the Champions League, Atletico Madrid won all three of their La Liga fixtures.

Atletico Madrid are known for being good at the back and they have conceded just 2 goals in their last six games, keeping four clean sheets.

Their record at home in the Champions League is exceptional and Atletico Madrid have won ten of their last eleven (including the win on penalties against PSV) although this will be their first European fixture in their new stadium.

Chelsea travel to the Spanish capital having claimed an excellent 4-0 victory in the Premier League at Stoke City on the weekend. Joint league leaders Manchester United failed to defeat Stoke the previous weekend, so this result cannot be underestimated.

Having tasted a shock home defeat at home to Burnley on the first weekend of the Premier League season, Chelsea have gone on a run of seven games without defeat. There have been good wins in the Premier League over Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Leicester City in addition to the thrashing of Qarabag in the Champions League.

Chelsea’s away record in the Champions League is not great and they have won only three of their last twelve games on the road. However, they have only lost four of those twelve games and the last meeting between the teams in Spain finished 0-0 in April 2014.

Team news and Atletico Madrid should be close to full strength with Hector Hernandez and Augusto Matias Fernandez the only doubts for the home team. Chelsea are without the injured Danny Drinkwater and Thibaut Courtois and David Luiz remain doubts.

Expect this to be a very tight game, with goal scoring chances at a premium. Both teams know if they fall behind it will be extremely difficult to get back into the game. If there is to be a winner, you must back Atletico Madrid but only by a narrow one goal margin but do not be surprised if the match ends level with under 2.5 goals.