Will Diego Simeone push his team into the semi-finals?
You have to celebrate the festivities as they fall. Manchester City’s big goal for years has been to triumph in the Champions League. So far, they have failed to do so. On Wednesday, the Citizens will play their 100th game in the premier league in the second leg at Atletico Madrid. The aim is nothing less than to make it to the semi-finals.
However, it is a tough task to make it to the Wanda Metropolitano. Many top teams have already cut their teeth against Atletico Madrid. In general, the Citizens do not have good memories of trips to Spain. Manchester City have won only three of their eleven away games with Spanish clubs. However, even a draw would be enough to advance in this second leg.
The English side won the first leg 1-0 at home last week. If the away goals rule still applied, that would have been a very good result. Today, however, a one-goal win is enough for the Madrilenians to reach extra time. However, we think that in the duel between Atletico Madrid and Manchester City, the first prediction may go to an away win.
Atletico Madrid – Statistics & current form
Once upon a time, Atletico Madrid were an absolute power in their own arena. This fact seems to have evaporated in the meantime. In the Champions League, the Colchoneros have been waiting for a home win for seven games. It is therefore quite astonishing that Atletico are still involved in the current top flight at all.
The form has tipped over
In La Liga things could also be better. Currently, Diego Simeone’s team is only fourth. It is very close between second and sixth place. It is quite possible that the Madrilenians will only be allowed to compete in the Europa League next season. After six wins in a row, they recently suffered two defeats. The form has tipped and that’s why Wednesday could be the last game at this level for the foreseeable future.
In any case, we would rather not play the odds on a home win or the Spaniards progressing in the duel Atletico Madrid vs Manchester City. The dress rehearsal went down the drain last weekend when they played in Mallorca. The Colchoneros were so harmless on the offensive that they were beaten 1-0 in the end.
Angel Correa, who returned from a yellow card suspension in the first leg, is expected to provide creative moments on Wednesday. Joao Felix is also expected to return to the starting eleven. Luis Suarez, on the other hand, is likely to face a place on the bench, as he did in the first leg. Yannick Carrasco will miss out through suspension. Jose Maria Gimenez and Hector Herrera are out of action due to injury.
Predicted line-up of Atletico Madrid:
Oblak – Savic, Felipe, Mandava – Kondogbia – Correa, de Paul, Koke, Llorente – Joao Felix, Griezmann – Coach: Simeone
Last matches played by Atletico Madrid:
La Liga
04/09 2022 – Mallorca 1 – 0 Atletico Madrid
Champions League Final
04/05 2022 – Manchester City 1 – 0 Atletico Madrid
La Liga
04/02 2022 – Atletico Madrid 4 – 1 Deportivo Alaves
03/19 2022 – Rayo Vallecano 0 – 1 Atletico Madrid
Champions League Final
03/15 2022 – Manchester United 0 – 1 Atletico Madrid
Manchester City – Statistics & current form
These are tough weeks for Manchester City. But that’s because Pep Guardiola’s team is having a successful season and is still dancing on three highs. In all three competitions, Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup, the Skyblues played for the title. Therefore, they must continue to be highly concentrated in every game. The senses at City are definitely still heightened.
Citizens almost unbeatable
In the English Premier League, Manchester are currently top of the table. In the last seven games, the neck-and-neck race against Liverpool continues. At the moment, City have one more point and everything in their own hands. Nevertheless, the focus shifts to the top flight on Wednesday and if the Englishmen are highly focused there, the forecast between Atletico Madrid and Manchester City should be for the visitors to progress.
Last weekend, the Citizens were part of a top-class Premier League match. The Reds from Liverpool were guests at the Etihad Stadium. With the final score of 2-2, Manchester City were able to maintain the top spot and therefore better off with it. Pep Guardiola’s team took the lead twice through Kevin de Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus, but LFC managed to equalise twice.
Manchester thus extended their series of only one defeat in 23 competitive games. We therefore do not expect them to suffer a defeat in Madrid, especially as the English side will be travelling to the Spanish capital with almost the full squad. Apart from the suspended Gabriel Jesus and the injured Ruben Dias, all players should be on board.
Predicted Manchester City line-up:
Ederson – Cancelo, Laporte, Stones, Walker – Rodri, Gündogan – Grealish, de Bruyne, Mahrez – Sterling – coach: Guardiola
Last matches played by Manchester City:
Premier League
04/10 2022 – Manchester City 2 – 2 Liverpool FC
Champions League Final
04/05 2022 – Manchester City 1 – 0 Atletico Madrid
Premier League
04/02 2022 – Burnley 0 – 2 Manchester City
FA Cup
03/20 2022 – Southampton 1 – 4 Manchester City
Premier League
03/14 2022 – Crystal Palace 0 – 0 Manchester City
Atletico Madrid – Manchester City Direct comparison / H2H record
Over many years, Atletico Madrid and Manchester City have avoided each other in the Champions League with nice regularity. The first leg in this year’s quarter-finals was actually the first meeting between these two clubs. After the 1-0 victory of the English, it is not necessary to mention that they are also ahead in the direct comparison.
For a long time, the Spanish bulwark held, who mainly concentrated on protecting their own goal and accordingly did not fire a single shot on goal in the entire match. Thus Manchester City struggled to a 1:0 victory. In the 70th minute it was once again Kevin de Bruyne who scored the decisive goal for the Citizens.
Atletico Madrid – Manchester City Tip
Atletico Madrid will not be able to be as destructive as they saw from the Colchoneros in the first leg. A home win is needed at the Wanda Metropolitano on Wednesday. However, the Spaniards have not won in their last seven home games in the Champions League. That doesn’t sound like the Madrilenians will make it to the semifinals.
