Date :Wednesday 17th, March 2021
Time: 9:00pm
Stadium Stamford Bridge
Referee Daniele Orsato (Italy)
Goal Scorer:
Team News
Chelsea
Thomas Tuchel has a couple of fresh roster issues hampering his preparations ahead of the visit of Atletico Madrid. On Wednesday, the Chelsea manager is set to be bereft of the services of four first-team players due to suspension and injury-related absences.
Thiago Silva (thigh) and Tammy Abraham (ankle) remain unavailable due to their respective fitness concerns. The injured duo has now been joined on the sidelines by Jorginho and Mason Mount. both of whom will serve a one-match ban due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
The absence of Jorginho and Mount will force Tuchel into at least a couple of changes. Mateo Kovacic is expected to come in for Jorginho in the midfield double pivot alongside N’Golo Kante, with the Croat being tasked with providing the forward thrust from the middle of the park. Mount, on the other hand, will likely make way for Timo Werner in the attacking unit.
Werner will be one of the two attacking midfielders playing off of the central striker, who ought to be Olivier Giroud, with Callum Hudson-Odoi starting in place of Hakim Ziyech. Giroud’s inclusion will be with a view of having a focal point high up the pitch to put a resilient Atletico Madrid backline under some pressure.
Reece James and Marcos Alonso should return as the two wing-backs, with the duo being tasked with providing the deliveries from the flanks for Giroud. At the back, though, there is no looking past Andreas Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and captain Cesar Azpilicueta, with Edouard Mendy set to take his place in the Chelsea goal.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Mendy; Azpilicueta, Christensen, Rüdiger; James, Kante, Kovacic, Alonso; Hudson-Odoi, Werner; Giroud
Atletico Madrid
Unlike his counterpart in the Chelsea dugout, Diego Simeone does not have any fresh concerns to deal with ahead of the trip to west London. In fact, on Wednesday, the Atletico Madrid boss will have a full-strength squad to choose from.
With that in mind, it will be interesting to see which personnel make the cut in the final starting lineup. One thing that is certain is that Atletico Madrid will be set up in a system that will essentially see them sit in a 4-4-2 formation in the defensive phase while assuming a 3-4-2-1 shape in transitions.
The back three ought to feature Stefan Savic, Felipe and Mario Hermoso, who will be the left-back when Atletico Madrid are off the ball. Kieran Trippier will essentially feature as a right wing-back but will drop deep when Chelsea look to push forward, with Marcos Llorente providing defensive support in such scenarios. Between the sticks, Jan Oblak is the obvious pick for the visitors.
Yannick Carrasco will be the other auxiliary wing-back who will sit in front of Hermoso when Atletico Madrid are behind the ball. In the middle of the park, the onus will be on Saul Niguez and captain Koke to keep things tight while also aiming to initiate quick transitions when the visitors are in possession.
The forward thrust higher up the pitch will be provided by Marcos Llorente, with Angel Correa getting into central areas to play off of Luis Suarez, who will be desperate to end his incredible away drought in the UEFA Champions League against Chelsea.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Oblak; Savic, Felipe, Hermoso; Trippier, Saul, Koke, Carrasco; Llorente, Correa; Suarez
Quote
Key Stats
Chelsea have won just one of their three home games in the UEFA Champions League against Atletico Madrid (D1 L1), a 4-0 win in the 2009/10 group stages. Their sole home defeat was in the 2013/14 semi-finals, losing 3-1. Under Diego Simeone, Los Rojiblancos are unbeaten in each of their two Champions League games at Stamford Bridge (W1 D1).
Chelsea’s record in the Champions League Round of 16 is W8 L6. The Blues have lost their last four contests at this stage. Atletico Madrid have won five of their seven Round of 16 ties. Last season’s 3-2 second-leg win at Liverpool, though, was only their second victory in their last ten away matches in the Champions League knockout rounds (D2 L6).
In their history in European competition, Chelsea have never been knocked out of a two-legged knockout tie after winning the first leg away from home, progressing from all 13 such ties.
Last season’s victory at Liverpool was just Atletico Madrid’s third win in 14 away games against English clubs (D7 L4). However, the Colchoneros are unbeaten in their last five visits to England (W2 D3).
In the 12 games that Thomas Tuchel has overseen, Chelsea have kept 10 clean sheets and are yet to lose a game (W8 D4).
Chelsea have won just one of their three home games in the UEFA Champions League against Atletico Madrid (D1 L1), a 4-0 win in the 2009/10 group stages. Their sole home defeat was in the 2013/14 semi-finals, losing 3-1. Under Diego Simeone, Los Rojiblancos are unbeaten in each of their two Champions League games at Stamford Bridge (W1 D1).
Chelsea’s record in the Champions League Round of 16 is W8 L6. The Blues have lost their last four contests at this stage. Atletico Madrid have won five of their seven Round of 16 ties. Last season’s 3-2 second-leg win at Liverpool, though, was only their second victory in their last ten away matches in the Champions League knockout rounds (D2 L6).
In their history in European competition, Chelsea have never been knocked out of a two-legged knockout tie after winning the first leg away from home, progressing from all 13 such ties.
Last season’s victory at Liverpool was just Atletico Madrid’s third win in 14 away games against English clubs (D7 L4). However, the Colchoneros are unbeaten in their last five visits to England (W2 D3).
In the 12 games that Thomas Tuchel has overseen, Chelsea have kept 10 clean sheets and are yet to lose a game (W8 D4).
Prediction: Chelsea 1-0 Atletico Madrid
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