Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea Preview

Atletico Madrid v Chelsea, Tuesday 22nd April, 19:45, ITV

Avoiding Real Madrid and Bayern Munich might have been the dream of Chelsea fans though they might regret drawing Atletico who are arguably the most in-form side in the tournament.

Atletico sit four points clear in Spain and are unbeaten in ten Champions League games this season. Madrid booked their place in the last four by seeing off Milan and then Barcelona in the quarters and are 5/6 (boylesports/betfair SPORTSBOOK) to reach the final.

Chelsea and their boss Jose Mourinho can not be counted as they have the big game experience with the Portugal man winning this trophy twice as manager while the London side (under Di Matteo) lifted it in 2012. Chelsea booked their place in the last four when they saw off PSG on away goals thanks to a late Dembe Ba strike. The London side are 11/10 (ladbrokes/CORAL) to qualify for their third final.

In terms of the first leg Atletico are looking to record an eighth successive home victory and they are the 17/20 (GENERAL) favourites to do so. In fact Real Madrid in the Copa Del Rey are the only side to have won at Atletico all season. Chelsea can take heart from the fact that they are unbeaten in their last 15 meetings with Spanish sides in this competition and they can be backed at 17/4 (GENERAL) while the draw is a 13/5 (boylesports) chance. To record victory though the Blues must recover from a poor run of form away from home that has seen them win just two of their last eight on their travels, losing three of the last four.

The bookmakers seem to have the prices correct in the match markets with Atletico expected to come out on top though I will not be backing them at those odds. I will look to one of the other markets and I like the tie to be drawn at half time and any side to go and win the game. Chelsea will look to keep things tight early on and it might take Atletico take time to break them down. This bet has paid in three of the last five Atletico home games.

RECOMMENDATION: Draw at HT and either side to win the game, 8/5 (betway)

REAL MADRID v BAYERN MUNICH, Wednesday 23rd April, 19:45, SKY SPORTS

It promises to be a real cracker when these two sides do battle for a place in the Champions League final with the Germans the 4/6 (BETVICTOR) favourites to make the next round. Bayern are looking for a second consecutive title and have been in dominant domestic form this season wrapping up the title a number of weeks ago while in Europe they have suffered just one defeat this season (against Man City in the group stages). Real Madrid will be looking to make the Champions League final for the first time since 2002, having come unstuck in the semi-final stages in the last three seasons. The Spanish side have suffered just one defeat this season in the competition which came in the second leg against Dortmund and are 11/8 (bet365/TOTESPORT/betfred) to do so.

Although Munich are probably the stronger team I think the price on Madrid to qualify for the final is too big. Bayern have slipped a little in recent weeks, winning just three of their last seven games. Thrown in the fact that Bayern have lost their last five games at the Bernabeu (including 2010 final with Inter) and Real have won 20 of their last 21 games at home all this looks a great price to take. Especially as this looks like something you can lay off if as expected the Spanish side come out on top in the first leg. RECOMMENDATION: R Madrid to qualify, 11/8 (bet365/TOTESPORT/betfred)
R Madrid to win first leg, 7/5 (GENERAL)

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22/04/2014     © Frixo 2026