Atletico Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen

Estadio Metropolitano forms the backdrop for a heavyweight UEFA Champions League encounter between Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen.

Atletico Madrid slumped to a heartbreaking 1-0 defeat at La Liga minnows Leganes last weekend, relinquishing a remarkable 15-game winning streak across all competitions dating back to mid-October. Eager to bounce back immediately, Diego Simeone’s men return home, where they’ve only lost one of their last 13 continental fixtures (W8, D4). With two of their three most recent European wins on home soil coming against German opposition, ‘Los Colchoneros’ should take the field in a buoyant mood. Adding to their confidence, they’ve never lost a home meeting with Leverkusen, though five of their six previous H2Hs in Madrid ended all square in regular 90 minutes (W1). However, a draw wouldn’t aid the Spaniards’ cause as they trail the last automatic qualifying spot by a point ahead of the final two rounds.

If there’s a side capable of knocking Atletico Madrid down from a six-game winning home streak, it’s high-flying Bayer Leverkusen. Except for a dismal 4-0 defeat at Liverpool on Gameweek 4, Xabi Alonso’s men have gone unbeaten in all five remaining Champions League outings this term (W4, D1) to put themselves in pole position to secure automatic qualification. The reigning Bundesliga champions take this trip keen to seal the deal amid red-hot form having won their last 11 matches in all competitions, including victories over Inter Milan and RB Salzburg ‘to nil.’ ‘Die Werkself’ can take further confidence from their five-game undefeated run against Spanish clubs (W3, D2), but there’s a reason for concern. Indeed, they’ve not won on Spanish soil since 2013/14 (D3, L4).