FC Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid Odds & Preview: UCL Group Stage Matchday 6
- RB Salzburg host Atletico Madrid on Matchday 6 at Red Bull Arena
- The Austrian giants can advance to the last 16 with a victory, while Atleti needs just a point to solidify their spot in the next round
- Get the odds, preview, and best bet for this clash below
RB Salzburg will be looking for a massive victory at home against La Liga giants Atletico Madrid on Wednesday, December 9, kick-off at 3:00 PM EST. Matchday 2 saw these sides lock horns in a goal-filled thriller, with Atleti just coming out on top in a 3-2 win at Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. This will be one of eight matches played on Wednesday.
This game will definitely be a decisive one for both clubs. Atletico currently has six points in second place, while Salzburg has four. Therefore, a victory for the home side would see them advance alongside Bayern Munich to the Round of 16, while a loss or tie would eliminate the Austrians. As for Diego Simeone’s side, just a point is necessary to see themselves through.
RB Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid Matchday 6 Odds
| Matchup | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| RB Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid | SAL +0.5 (-132) | ATM -0.5 (+110) | SAL +230 | ATM +112 | DRAW +265 | Ov 2.5 (-115) | Un 2.5 (-105) |
All odds taken Dec 7 at DraftKings
Salzburg Looking for the Upset
It’s been an impressive two seasons for RB Salzburg, appearing in consecutive Champions League Group Stage campaigns. They’ve only been in this competition a total of three times and have never advanced to the Round of 16. However, this can change in a heartbeat on Wednesday if Jesse Marsch’s men can grab three points against Atletico.
Salzburg has collected just one victory in five matches to this point while losing three times and drawing once. Their lone victory actually came last week against Lokomotiv Moscow, beating them 3-1 thanks to Mergim Berisha’s double. This has not been an easy group by any means for the Austrian outfit, with the likes of Bayern and Atletico posing a real threat to their Champions League hopes.
The fact they actually have the opportunity to advance is an impressive feat in itself. When they last played Atleti, it was an extremely even match that saw Salzburg have slightly more possession and hold a 2-1 lead at one point. A late Joao Felix winner in the 85th minute ultimately proved to be the difference, but it was a respective showing.
After putting up such a gritty fight last time out against the Spaniards, Salzburg will have the utmost confidence heading into Wednesday’s clash knowing they can make history.
Can Atletico Get It Done?
The pressure is certainly on Atletico as they prepare for a very important fixture on Wednesday. If they can secure a point or a victory, this will be the seventh time in eight seasons the La Liga side will advance to the last 16 under gaffer Diego Simeone.
Madrid has been in outstanding form domestically, currently sitting in top spot in Spain with an 8-2-0 record. They’ve also conceded just two goals in league play, a huge testament to the solidity of their backline.
But in Europe, it’s been a slightly different story. Atleti has just one win to show for heading into Matchday 6. That only victory was against Salzburg more than a month ago. Their UCL campaign got off to a dreadful start, losing 4-0 to Bayern. They’ve also tied three times, with two draws against Lokomotiv and the other against the Bavarian giants last week.
Simeone’s squad will be looking to build off that draw against the current title-holders last week though, where they held the lead for most of the match until conceding a spot-kick in the 86th minute. Joao Felix is enjoying a nice spell of form with three goals to his name in European play and will surely be a key part of their attack against Salzburg.
After shocking Liverpool in the Round of 16 last year at Anfield, failing to advance this term would be a massive disappointment for such a decorated club, especially considering how well they’re playing in La Liga.
RB Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid Stats
| 1-1-3 (3rd in Group A) | Standing | 1-3-1 (2nd in Group A) |
| 10 | Goals Scored | 5 |
| 15 | Goals Conceded | 8 |
| 2 | Goals Per Game in UCL Play | 1 |
Best Bet
It would be a great story to see Salzburg pull off the upset here, but I don’t see it happening. Despite Atletico’s poor form in the Champions League, I do believe they’re going to grab a victory here. They put together a solid performance against Bayern last week then also won again in Spain over the weekend.
However, it will be a close, well-played match. Atletico will just come out on top, winning by one goal.
Pick: Atletico Madrid +112
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
