Real Madrid vs Atalanta Prediction & Betting Tips - Champions League

Prediction published on 14/03/2021, 00:20  by Nella Wagah | Modified on 14/03/2021 at 00:21 in Champions League Predictions

Real Madrid once again scraped through as they managed a 2-1 win over 17th placed Elche in their Saturday La Liga clash. Now the attention shifts to a tougher game in the Champions League, against Italian side Atalanta as the two sides fight for a quarter final place. Real Madrid leads 1-0 from the first leg but this being Atalanta, that slim advantage may not mean much. For the third straight game, Real failed to keep a clean sheet as they hosted Elche and had to come from behind, for the third straight game. Real have scored six goals in their last five matches; all have come in the second half, and four have been scored in the final five minutes. The most important thing is that they’ve been able to score in each of the last 12 matches, though in 15 matches across all competitions they’ve been able to win by two or more goals in just four. Real Madrid are unbeaten in four home matches going to this game, but have won just three of their nine home matches in the Champions League. Defensively, they’ve been failing in Europe too; in six of their last nine home matches in this competition, both sides have scored. Skipper Sergio Ramos is set to return in the game after three months out and may help stabilize the defence.

In the first leg match, Atalanta played from the 17th minute with a man down after Remo Freuler’s red card. They are coming from a comfortable 3-1 win over Spezia in Serie A and after scoring two or more in three of their last five matches, they’ll be fired up for this game. One area for the Italians to address going to this game is the defence, having managed just one clean sheet in the last five matches. They have conceded four goals in the last five matches but in five of their last eight matches, Atalanta have won by two goals or more. Gianpiero Gasperini’s side is faced with a must win clash here, and they will be heavily banking on their away form to carry them here. In their last 14 away matches, Atalanta have only lost once – to Inter in Serie A. They have eight wins in 14 away matches and in the Champions League it has been even better, with five straight away wins, among them wins at Liverpool and Ajax. Moreover, they’ve scored two or more goals in four of their last five away matches in the Champions League, and have kept four clean sheets in the process.