Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Champions League Round of 16 Leg 2 Odds, Pick & Betting Preview
- After a 1-0 win over the current title holders in the first leg, Atletico will now travel to Anfield on Wednesday for the decisive second leg
- Liverpool has lost three out of their last four matches heading into this crucial fixture
- Get the full odds, pick, and betting preview for this Round of 16 clash below
The current Champions League holders will host Atletico Madrid this Wednesday (March 11) at 4pm ET at Anfield. After going undefeated in league play in their first 27 matches, Jurgen Klopp’s men have now hit a dry spell, winning just once in their last four matches across all competitions.
Atletico will look to complete the unthinkable on Wednesday by eliminating Liverpool from Europe’s most prized competition. Diego Simeone’s side secured a 1-0 victory in the first leg at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on February 18 behind a Saul Niguez goal early in the first half.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liverpool | -1 (-108) | -185 | Ov 2.5 (+104) |
| Atletico Madrid | -1 (+108) | +500 | Un 2.5 (-120) |
| Draw | N/A | +300 | N/A |
Odds taken March 6th
However, it won’t be an easy task for the Spanish side. Despite the Reds’ dismal form lately, they’re still one of the most talented teams in the world and feature one of the most electric attacks in all of Europe. With that in mind, it’s going to be very difficult for Atletico to keep Liverpool out of their own net.
Reds Seeking Another UCL Trophy
Over the last year, Liverpool has been one of the best sides on the globe. They lifted the Champions League trophy last year and followed that up with a breathtaking campaign so far in England, where the Premier League title is already theirs for the taking. The Reds are currently 22 points clear of second-place Manchester City.
However, their torrid form has taken a slight dip lately, losing to Atletico, Watford, and Chelsea in the last few weeks. The Hornets stunned Klopp’s squad 3-0 last weekend, handing Liverpool their first Premier League loss since January of 2019. Then just this past week, Chelsea knocked the Reds out of the FA Cup, beating them 2-0.
Realistically, even the best teams are destined to lose eventually. Even though their league winning streak has ended, it shouldn’t harm them when it comes to Wednesday’s vital second leg tie against Atletico. Liverpool was down 3-0 heading back to Anfield in last year’s UCL semifinal against Barcelona and fired back with a historic 4-0 win to advance. A 1-0 deficit is nothing for a side of this caliber who know exactly what it’s like to face adversity.
Allison has been ruled out of Wednesday’s match, so Adrian will take his place in net. Captain Jordan Henderson will be looking to return for this fixture after nursing a minor hamstring injury for the last three matches.
Can Atletico Pull Off the Upset?
Atletico Madrid isn’t having the best year in La Liga, sitting in fifth place currently. However, they’re in decent form lately, going undefeated in their last five appearances in all competitions. They’ve struggled to score goals in European play though, netting just 1.3 goals per match.
There’s no doubt that Diego Simeone is thrilled that his men are taking a 1-0 lead into the second leg. But Atletico must not take their foot off the gas pedal, because Liverpool is going to be coming at the Spaniards with vengeance. The Reds haven’t lost at home since May of 2018, a span of 54 matches. Atletico will be hungry to end Liverpool’s extraordinary streak, but it will not be easy by any means.
Madrid controlled just 28 percent of the play in the first leg and were lucky that the Merseysiders failed to register a shot on goal. Their backline will need to be sharp again with the likes of Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino, and Sadio Mane constantly posing a threat in the final third for the Reds.
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid UCL Stats
| 4-1-2 | 2019-20 UCL Record | 4-1-2 |
| 1.9 (8th in UCL) | Goals Scored Per Match | 1.3 (23rd in UCL) |
| 606 (1st in UCL) | Completed Passes Per Match | 382.9 (18th in UCL) |
| 26-1-1 (1st in Premier League) | Domestic Record | 11-11-4 (5th in La Liga) |
Liverpool Will Advance
Aside from the Reds being -185 favorites heading into this match, they’re frankly just a better side than Atletico. Even though Simeone’s squad beat them in the first leg, Liverpool controlled the entire game.
Given their outstanding track record at home over the last year and a half, Liverpool is definitely the best bet here to advance to the quarterfinals and get one step closer to repeating as European champions.
Pick: Liverpool (-185)
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.
