Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
This Champions League clash brings together two sides who have reached the final of the competition in recent years without winning it. Atletico will be looking to continue their strong form of recent seasons in the knockout rounds of the Champions League, with them having not lost in 12 home knockout ties in the competition. They have also won their last five home games against Italian sides, and have won seven of their last nine games against Serie A sides in all European competitions.
Juventus do not have a great recent record in Spain, having won only three of their last nine games in the country. Their overall away record against La Liga opposition is not great either, as they have won six, drawn six and lost 16 games against Spanish opposition on Spanish soil.
Atletico Madrid vs Juventus Prediction: Atletico 1-1 Juventus
Our prediction for this mouth-watering tie is that it will end all square. Juve do not have a great record in Spain, but they certainly have enough attacking power in their line-up to score once. Ateli will be backed by their passionate home crowd, which might just give them the edge. We think that the two sides are pretty well-matched, though, and a score draw looks the most likely outcome. It will be interesting to see how the two defences cope with two attacking line-ups of such power and threat.
Our recommended tip: 1-1
Our featured tip for this game comes courtesy of William Hill, who are offering odds of 4/1 on the game finishing as a 1-1 draw. This ties in perfectly with our prediction, while the relatively short odds show that the bookies are anticipating a close game too. While both sides possess plenty of attacking threat, we suspect that they will largely cancel each other out. Atletico, boosted by their passionate home support, may well take an early lead. They will be pegged back after the interval by a Juve side that would probably be delighted with a 1-1 away draw.
Previous matches
These two sides have played each other twice in the Champions League previously. Those two games came in the 2014/15 competition, when the teams met in the group stages of the competition. The first clash, which took place on October 1, 2014, at the Vicente Calderon was won 1-0 by Atletico, with Turkish midfielder Arda Turn notching the game’s only goal.
The second game was played in Turin on December 9, 2014, and it ended all square. Neither side managed to break the deadlock and it ended 0-0. In the end, Atleti topped Group A that season, with Juventus finishing in second place.
Top 3 Champions League Bookies
Players to watch: Antoine Griezmann & Mario Mandzukic
French striker Antoine Griezmann should be leading the line for the Spanish side on Wednesday night in Madrid. He has already scored four goals in the group stages of this season’s Champions League. To that tally can be added 12 goals in La Liga, scored in 24 games, as well as two goals in the Copa del Rey. He scored the game’s only goal in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano.
Croatian striker Mario Mandzukic will be a key player for the Italian side on Wednesday evening. He has notched eight goals and five assists in 19 matches in Serie A this season, as well as providing one goal for his team in the Champions League. On his day, the Croat is a real handful for defenders, working to create space for others as much as chances for himself. He is also an ex-Atletico player, having spent a season there before signing for Juve in 2015.
