UEFA Champion League: Juventus v Atl. Madrid Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: Tuesday 12th March 2019 (Kick-off 9:00 PM CET).

A 2-0 lead from the Home Leg gives Atletico Madrid a huge advantage over Juventus as they head to Italy to try and secure a place in the Quarter Final of the Champions League yet again.

Under Diego Simeone Atletico Madrid have been a wonderful European team who have lost just 1 of their last 10 two Legged Knock Out ties in the Champions League/Europa League combined. They have reached two Champions League Finals in the last few years and also won the Europa League, while the motivation of being able to host the Champions League Final is hard to ignore.

All of the pressure seems to be on Juventus who were favourites to win this tie when the draw was made. Add in the investment to sign Cristiano Ronaldo and you can understand that a Last 16 defeat in the Champions League will not go down well in Turin despite the big lead they have in Serie A.

Being at home gives Juventus a chance to turn things around and an early goal will really get the fans behind them, but Atletico Madrid are very, very experienced. They have lost 2 of their last 9 away Champions League games and both came by wide margins including the 4-0 defeat at Borussia Dortmund in the Group Stage, but Atletico Madrid look to be rounding into form and I don't think they collapse even with the pressure the home team will put on them.

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Juventus have won just 2 of their last 6 home Champions League games and at some point they are going to have to take chances which could open things up for the Atletico Madrid counter attack. I would not be surprised if one of those produces a goal that effectively ends the tie and backing the away team with a full goal start on the Asian Handicap looks the play.

It is not the most appealing of prices to be perfectly honest, but I am anticipating a tight game and one goal for Atletico Madrid may be enough for them to secure a positive result in Turin. I would certainly expect that to be enough to at least secure a push at the very least, although some of my weekend selections decided in blowing big leads so you just never can tell.    
 

Prediction: Atletico Madrid + 1 Asian Handicap