Atletico Madrid will host the first leg of their Champions League quarterfinal tie against Borussia Dortmund this Wednesday. These two will be battling for the right to face either PSG or Barcelona in the semis. Both sides come into this game on the back of shaky runs in recent matches. The hosts will only be seeking a fourth win in nine matches when they take to the pitch. In the last round of this competition, they saw off last season’s finalists Inter Milan in extra time after a 2-2 aggregate draw. Their 1-0 away loss in that tie was the first of four defeats in the last eight matches. Diego Simeone’s side failed to score in those four defeats. However, coming into this game, they got a morale-boosting win in beating Villarreal 2-1 away from home. Saul Niguez’s late goal granted Atletico that win after seeing Axel Witsel’s early opener canceled out. In this game, Atletico will be looking to rise from a 3-0 defeat to Barcelona in their last home game. A previous run of three straight home wins however points to a side very capable of holding their own. This will be the first time Atletico host Dortmund after the 2018 meeting which the Spaniards won 2-0.
Borussia Dortmund’s inconsistent season reared its face over the weekend in their 1-0 loss to Stuttgart in the Bundesliga. That defeat came after a key 2-0 win over Bayern Munich, and left them fifth in the standings. With a top four finish in the Bundesliga not guaranteed, Dortmund will want to do well in the Champions League. Five wins in their last six matches in all competitions should be good enough for their motivation. They also carry into this game a three-match unbeaten run away from home in the Champions League. In that run there were two wins. However, five losses in 10 away matches in this competition are still a stain on Dortmund’s run. That, and the fact they have just one clean sheet 14 away matches in this competition should leave some concern. Dortmund however did well in the last round, dispatching Dutch giants PSV 3-1 on aggregate. They will hope to build on that against the Spaniards.
Atletico Madrid have done well in their recent home matches in the Champions League. They’ve managed to put behind them the struggles in La Liga when it comes to the Champions League. Defined by their defensive strength, the Spaniards facing an inconsistent Borussia Dortmund, should be favorites coming into this game. Dortmund have struggled in away Champions League games, a trend we could see here too. Our prediction for Atletico Madrid v Borussia Dortmund is for Atletico Madrid to win to nil.