Atletico Madrid v Leicester preview: Foxes face familiar foe in Champions League quarter-final
Wednesday 12 April 2017 19:00, UK
Leicester will face Atletico Madrid for the third time in European competition in Wednesday's Champions League quarter-final.
The teams have played each other over a two-legged tie in the 1961/62 Cup Winners Cup and 1997/98 UEFA Cup, meaning that 25% of the Foxes' European fixtures have come against Atletico (4 our of 16).
The La Liga club progressed in both of the previous fixtures and have collected the most victories in the Champions League this season, winning six of their eight games.
However, Leicester manager Craig Shakespeare says that the current Premier League champions will be competitive during the Vicente Calderon clash as they look to take an advantage back to the King Power Stadium on April 18.
"In terms of life experiences you use them as you go along, you have new ones and this is one for us in the Champions League this season," he told a pre-match press conference.
"We have enjoyed it but make no mistake we're there to compete and not to make the numbers up. These players deserve this opportunity and we aim to keep that going."
Team news
Wes Morgan has travelled with the Leicester team but will not feature on Wednesday evening as he continues to struggle with a back problem, while Wilfred N'Didi will be available after missing out against Everton at the weekend.
N'Didi, along with Robert Huth, Islam Slimani and Jamie Vardy, are all a caution away from missing next week's second leg with Shakespeare adding that he will urge his players to avoid a ban.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Nico Gaitan has trained during the week after recovering from a toe injury and will be available for selection.
Forward Kevin Gameiro and goalkeeper Miguel Angel Moya remain sidelined with hamstring injuries.
Opta stats
Atletico Madrid have reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the fourth consecutive season. They had only reached that stage once previously (1996/97).
Atletico Madrid have won 16 of their 21 Champions League home games under Diego Simeone (D4 L1), their only defeat coming against Benfica in September 2015 (1-2). They are unbeaten in the knockout stages (W5 D4).
Atletico Madrid have also kept a clean sheet in 15 of their last 17 Champions League games at the Calderón.
Leicester City are the first team since Malaga in 2012/13 to reach the quarter-finals on their Champions League debut. They're also the eighth English team to make it to the Last 8 of the competition, more than any other country.
Leicester City have won only one of their four away games in the Champions League this season (D1 L2), it was against Club Brugge on matchday 1 (3-0).
Leicester are the lowest scoring side in the Champions League among the eight teams left in this season's competition (10 goals in 8 games). 50% of their goals have come from set-piece.
Leicester's possession average of 38% is the lowest of any team to have reached this season's quarter-finals.
Antoine Griezmann has scored or assisted 50% of Atletico Madrid's goals in the Champions League since last season (11 goals and 3 assists).
Riyad Mahrez is directly involved in six of Leicester's 10 Champions League goals this season (4 goals, 2 assists).
Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel has saved 19 of the 21 shots on target he's faced this season in the Champions League, including two penalties (both against Sevilla in the round of 16).
Charlie's prediction
Can Leicester get a result here? My honest feeling is no. They finally suffered their first defeat under Craig Shakespeare on Sunday and, while lots of players have been doing a lot better, this is a far more difficult proposition.
Atletico play the same way as Leicester as a counter-attacking team with a rigid defence and they only need 30 per cent of possession to win a game.
Leicester got lucky with the first leg in Sevilla and Diego Simeone will be perfectly happy if his side get a 1-0 win rather than go out and force the game, which leaves Leicester between a rock and hard place if they go behind.
Antoine Griezmann is obviously the star and Yannick Carrasco has established himself as a really important counter-attacking player.
Charlie predicts: 2-0 and Griezmann to score first - 9/1 with Sky Bet
Betting
Leicester are up against odds of 10/1 to establish a first-leg lead and 4/1 to leave with a draw, with Atletico Madrid 30/100 favourites on the night and also well odds-on to qualify. The Foxes are 7/2 to progress to the semi-finals and the biggest-priced outsiders at 33/1 to lift the trophy, with Diego Simeone's men 6/1 fourth favourites.
Antoine Griezmann heads the first goalscorer betting at 3/1 while Jamie Vardy is more than three times the price at 10/1 to net first.
