Atletico Madrid will kick off their 2024/25 Champions League campaign on Thursday, 19 September when they take on RB Leipzig at the Civitas Metroplitano.
Both teams come into the match in good form and neither of them have tasted defeat so far this season. Atletico are on eleven points from five games in La Liga while RB Leipzig are on seven points from three games in the Bundesliga.
With room for error in the Champions League now extended, a win isn't exactly essential here for either side but it wouldn't hurt their chances of a good European campaign.
How the bookies view it: The hosts go in as favourites
Atletico Madrid have a formidable record at home in the Champions League and they are favourites with the bookies to extend that record this week. Betfred have priced an Atletico Madrid victory at 4/5 while a win for RB Leipzig has been priced at 7/2. The draw, which would get both teams off the mark in the Champions League, has been priced at 11/4.
Recent head-to-head: A second meeting
Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig have only ever met once before and that was in the Champions League quarter-finals in 2020. That year, the quarter-finals were only played over one leg due to the Covid pandemic and Leipzig ran out as 2-1 winners thanks to a late goal from Tyler Adams.
Players to watch: A battle of the forwards
This is a match that sees some of the world's most exciting forwards go head-to-head making it the type of match that the Champions League was created for.
For the home side, Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth are the two new boys who have been tasked with leading the line this season following their big-money moves from Man City and Villarreal respectively.
Both men have only scored one goal each in Atletico colours but the Champions League offers them the opportunity to build on their goalscoring record and work on their budding partnership.
For the visitors, Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko are the men to watch out for. The former is the man responsible for ending Bayer Leverkusen's long Bundesliga unbeaten streak following his double against them last week while Sesko scored 18 goals in all competitions for the club last season.
Predicted line-ups
Pablo Barrios and Reinildo are the only injury concerns for Diego Simeone this week which means he should be able to field his strongest starting XI. Leipzig are also without two players in the form of Xaver Schlager and Assan Ouedraogo. Captain, Willi Orban, will return to the team after missing out at the weekend due to suspension.
Atletico Madrid: Oblak – Llorente, Le Normand, Gimenez, Azpilicueta, Lino – De Paul, Gallagher Alvarez, Griezmann, Sorloth
RB Leipzig: Gulacsi – Henrichs, Geertruida, Orban, Lukeba, Raum – Haidara, Kampl – Simon, Openda, Sesko
Anything else catch the eye?
Although we have listed the forwards that will take to the field on Thursday, both of these teams have been particularly strong at the back so far this season. Atletico have kept a clean sheet in their last four matches while RB Leipzig have kept a clean sheet in two of their three league fixtures. Under 2.5 goals to be scored has been priced at 11/10 by Betfred.
This UEFA Champions League match between Atletico Madrid and RB Leipzig will be played on Sep 19, 2024 and kick off at 20:00. Check below for our tipsters best Atletico Madrid vs RB Leipzig prediction. You may also visit our dedicated betting previews section for the most up to date previews.
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