Can Atalanta Produce a Champions League Comeback?
Three seasons ago, Real Madrid were the true kings of Europe, with Los Merengues winning the Champions League for the fourth time in five campaigns and Zinedine Zidane’s side had set the benchmark when it came to this competition, although the Spanish champions have since struggled to make a big impact.
Real can no longer rely on the magic of Cristiano Ronaldo although they are closing in on a place in the last eight of this season’s competition after a late Ferland Mendy winner at the Stadio Atleti Azzurri d'Italia a few weeks ago, meaning that they have a one-goal advantage and that’s one of the away variety.
Real Madrid Favourites to Win Champions League Second Leg
Real are losing their battle to win this season’s La Liga title, with Zidane’s team five points behind Atletico Madrid having played a game more, although the current Spanish champions did recently enjoy a five-match winning run before draws against Sociedad and Atleti.
Real Madrid should be relatively fresh for this clash after a facile home game against Elche, with the bookies offering evens about a home win in this clash and it’s impossible to consider that the home side will look to protect their relatively slender advantage considering that there are more goals in this for them.
Karim Benzema remains a reliable source of goals and the Frenchman has eighteen for the season including a goal in each of his last three encounters, while there are recognisable faces such as Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro in the midfield engine room.
Atalanta Big Betting Outsiders to Win Champions League Clash
Atalanta were a highly exciting part of last season’s Champions League competition, coming back from the brink to qualify for the knockout stage before an incredible 8-4 aggregate victory over Valencia, while they then took the lead before eventual finalists Paris Saint-Germain stormed back at the death to land a win.
Gian Piero Gasperini continues to preside over an attack-minded team who have scored sixty goals in twenty-six Serie A matches, with La Dea having flexed their attacking muscle when thrashing Crotone 5-1 and Luis Muriel is having a particularly good season considering that the Colombian has scored eighteen goals in all competitions this term.
Atalanta were unable to score at home to a strong defensive Real Madrid although they will simply have to find the net at the Bernabeu in order to stand any chance of reaching the last eight of the Champions League, with the Italian side trading at 13/5 when you compare the football betting sites for this clash.
The draw is available at odds of 13/5 and perhaps there could be value in Atalanta qualifying, with 10/3 being chalked up and we know that Real are capable of the occasional stutter, with the bookies anticipating a fairly high-scoring game.
What Are the Best Bets for Real Madrid v Atalanta?
While Real Madrid don’t need to win this Champions League game against Atalanta, they are still going to get on the front foot in search of a victory and the evens about Los Merengues winning in ninety minutes makes plenty of appeal, with Zinedine Zidane’s team looking to shut out their opponents at the same time.
You can get 11/4 with some Champions League betting sites that Real win to nil for a second time against La Dea, with Thibaut Courtois looking like a safe pair of hands, while Raphael Varane is going to marshal the defence and get plenty of protection from Casemiro and Kroos.
Atalanta might be a high-scoring team although there’s the obvious prospect that they will leave themselves open at the back when going on the attack, with a Real Madrid win + BTTS Yes trading at 11/4 which looks an attractive price.