Verdict: Atletico Madrid to keep a clean sheet yes
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Having already secured their place in the UEFA Champions League knockouts, both Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid will have nothing more than prestige, couple of records and bragging rights to fight for on Tuesday night at the Allianz Arena.
Bayern Munich
Bundesliga champions have found life difficult over the last couple of weeks as they have seen a worrying dip in form which resulted in Carlo Ancelotti’s men suffering back-to-back defeats to Dortmund and FK Rostov, respectively. A highly surprising slump in Russia was Bayern’s second Champions League defeat this season, which ultimately forced them to settle for the second place in Group D, behind their Tuesday rivals Atletico Madrid. Ancelotti’s men managed to return to winning ways by notching consecutive Bundesliga triumphs over Bayer Leverkusen and at Mainz last time out which means they head into the forthcoming duel in good spirits. The Bavarians are keen to make amends for the 1-0 beating at Vicente Calderon earlier in September and are expected to go full force on their Spanish rivals despite having nothing competitive to fight for.
Team News
Hosts will have to do without Holger Badstuber who is out with illness, whereas Kingsley Coman is still nursing his ankle injury.
Reliable midfielder Xabi Alonso has had some injury problems of late, but there is a chance the Spaniard could be involved in the game.
Atletico Madrid
Champions League Group D toppers Atletico Madrid travel to Germany eager to keep extend their four-match unbeaten run. Diego Simeone’s men have had plenty of problems domestically this season, having already lost three La Liga games which resulted in Rojiblancos being forced to settle for the fourth place in the standings. Contrary to their erratic La Liga spell, Atletico Madrid have had a perfect record in the Champions League with all five wins so far and there is no doubt that Diego Simeone’s men will be keen to close the group stage without a single loss. Simeone and his team have been to their usual selves so far in the competition, proving to be a tough nut to crack. They have allowed only one goal in five matches, whereas those five victories were won with mere seven goals. Atletico Madrid have for years been a tightly-packed unit, organized in defence and with a great eye for counterattacks. That is the recipe which is expected to be in play for the Tuesday’s match at the Allianz Arena against Bayern as Diego Simeone eyes another scalp of the Germany’s greatest.
Team News
Diego Simeone will be glad to report that the experienced striker Fernando Torres has been declared fit to feature against Bayern, having shook off his hip injury which kept him out of action for the last three games.
Midfielder Augusto Fernandez thus remains the only absentee for the game, as the 30-year-old continues to nurture hid knee injury.
Key Factors to Consider
Atletico Madrid have won all 5 UCL matches this season
Rojiblancos conceded only 1 goals in group stage thus far
Bayern Munich lost two of their group stage matches
Ancelotti’s men are seeking their 15th straight UCL home win
The Bavarians failed to win group for the 1st time since 2009/10
Conclusion
Bayern Munich are after a formidable record, but claiming the 15th consecutive home win in Europe’s elite competition will be easier said than done. Atletico Madrid are a tightly-organized unit which does not allow goals that easily and we predict that Bavarians’ advances will be neutralized for most part of the game.
Verdict: Atletico Madrid to keep a clean sheet yes
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