Atletico clinging to cup straw

Recent rumours have been mounting that Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid could go their separate ways from next summer. Although the majority of fans are still behind ‘El Cholo’, the polarising Argentine’s time in the Spanish capital seems to be slowly coming to an end. The potential crowning glory of his hugely successful tenure would of course be a title win.

This is exactly where the Spanish King’s Cup comes into question, because while the Rojiblancos are already considerably behind the top duo in La Liga and have long since had to give up the sails at European level, the Copa del Rey offers the only remaining chance of silverware. In order to continue dreaming of the title, the first bet on the Colchoneros in the round of 16 between Levante and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday evening must pay off.

The fact that odds in the region of 1.80 are being offered for an away win after regular time ahead of the aforementioned clash between Levante and Atletico Madrid comes as something of a surprise, given that the home side are currently based in La Liga 2.

At the same time, however, this distribution of odds also underlines the fact that the favourites from Madrid are currently a little bit out of sorts. At least against lower-class opponents, the Red and Whites have not shown any weaknesses in the cup rounds so far. Will it be the same on Wednesday evening?

Levante – Statistics & current form

For the past five seasons, Levante have been a fixture in Spain’s top football league. In 2021/22, however, the team from Valencia finished second last and had to make the bitter transition to the second division. In the current season, the team of coach Javier Calleja is therefore primarily concerned with achieving immediate promotion.

After 23 match days, the Azulgranas have a promising starting position. Third in the table, they are two points behind second place and three points behind the leaders. The top two clubs are promoted directly to the top flight. Third to sixth place will play off for another promotion in the play-offs.

Levante still unbeaten under Calleja

No other team has conceded fewer defeats than the Granotes so far this season. The record of ten wins, ten draws and only three defeats is certainly also an indication of why the odds on the favourite to win the cup quarter-final Levante vs Atletico Madrid have recently risen to 1.80.

Apart from that, it should not go unmentioned that the former first division club has not lost at all under the management of Javier Calleja, who has been in charge since mid-October. In La Liga, there have been six wins and six draws, and in the cup competition, all three hurdles have been overcome after regular playing time. Getafe, a first division team, was eliminated 3:2 a fortnight ago. However, the upcoming opponent from the Spanish capital is of a different calibre, which is why we refrain from making a prediction between Levante and Atletico Madrid.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that Vicente Iborra, a very experienced midfielder, is suspended. Former German international Skhodran Mustafi is also suffering from a muscular injury and will not be available. However, players like de Frutos, Campana or Wesley Moraes still represent a certain quality that the Simeone team will have to watch out for.

Predicted Levante line-up:
Cardenas – Munoz, Vezo, Postigo, Son – Pier, Martinez, Campana – Cantero, Wesley, de Frutos

Last matches played by Levante:

LaLiga2
15/01/2023 – Levante 3 – 1 Granada

07/01/2023 – Sporting Gijon 1 – 1 Levante

Copa del Rey
04/01/2023 – Levante 3 – 2 Getafe

22/12/2022 – Levante 2 – 1 FC Andorra

LaLiga2
19/12/2022 – Levante 0 – 0 Eibar

Atletico Madrid – Statistics & current form

For Atletico Madrid, the 2022/23 season has not taken the desired course so far. The surprising elimination in the Champions League group stage continues to have an effect. Only one of the six preliminary round matches against feasible opponents such as Porto, Leverkusen or Club Bruges could be won.

In La Liga, too, the Colchoneros are lagging far behind their own expectations. Although they still have a direct CL place in their pocket in fourth place, even the ninth-placed team in the table is only two points behind the Madrid team, which also has 13 (!) points less than leader Barcelona. As already mentioned in the introduction, those responsible are not at all satisfied with their performance so far. Diego Simeone can therefore not be completely relieved of his responsibility as coach.

Simeone must not allow himself to be eliminated

Wednesday night’s cup match already has a trend-setting significance for the Argentine head coach and his team. If no bet on the Rojiblancos pays off in the clash between Levante and Atletico Madrid, the pressure on the club’s management could increase even more.

Especially in view of the recent results, because if you exclude the victories in the Copa del Rey against lower-ranked teams, only one of the last six matches was won. Ten days ago, they lost 1-0 at home to FC Barcelona and Griezmann and Co. had to settle for a 1-1 draw in Almeria this weekend.

In terms of form, it could therefore be exciting to bet on the Red and Whites struggling again in the upcoming cup match, but ultimately coming out on top due to their higher individual quality. Possible bets are that Atletico will win the second half or that the decision will be made after the break after an even first 45 minutes. In terms of personnel, Simeone will probably not dare to make any major experiments. This cup match in Valencia is too important.

Predicted line-up of Atletico Madrid:
Oblak – Hermoso, Gimenez, Witsel – Koke – Carrasco, Llorente, Lemar, Molina – Morata, Griezmann

Last matches played by Atletico Madrid:

La Liga
15/01/2023 – Almeria 1 – 1 Atletico Madrid

09/01/2023 – Atletico Madrid 0 – 1 FC Barcelona

Copa del Rey
05/01/2023 – Real Oviedo 0 – 2 Atletico Madrid

La Liga
30/12/2022 – Atletico Madrid 2 – 0 Elche

Copa del Rey
23/12/2022 – CD Arenteiro 1 – 3 Atletico Madrid

Levante – Atletico Madrid Direct comparison / H2H balance

As recently as last season, these two teams faced each other in La Liga. Atletico Madrid remained without a win in two games. At home, the Madrid side surprisingly lost 0:1, at the Ciudad de Valencia they drew 2:2. In total, Atletico have not won any of their last four matches against their upcoming opponents. Their last away win dates back to the 2019/20 season, but now they face a potential CL contender against a second division side.

Levante – Atletico Madrid Tip

Whoever takes a look at the betting odds on the three-way market ahead of the Levante vs Atletico Madrid encounter might be somewhat surprised to see that the fourth-placed team in La Liga is relatively thinly-placed as favourites away at the third-placed team in the second division. In terms of quality, the differences are certainly more significant, although the home side have to be given credit for having a squad that should be capable of immediate promotion.

Moreover, Levante are still unbeaten under coach Javier Calleja. Since mid-October, the long-time first division club has not lost (nine wins, six draws) and even knocked a La Liga club, Getafe, out of the Copa del Rey. The upcoming match, however, will be a very different challenge, especially as the Colchoneros will take the encounter extremely seriously, knowing full well that the Spanish King’s Cup is their last remaining title chance.

We have therefore tried to follow many eventualities with our Levante vs Atletico Madrid betting tip and therefore play the bet on Atletico Madrid scoring more goals than their opponents in the second 45 minutes.