ATL.MADRID VS LOKOMOTIV MOSCOW PREVIEW & PREDICTION
For the knockout stages of the Europa League, players travel from Lokomotiv Moscow to Madrid. One round earlier Atletico Madrid had to play against Copenhagen and Moscow dueled with Nice. Both teams have survived their 1/16 finals sovereign. In this round, the Spaniards are the clear favorite.
The betting odds for a home win in this game are in the 1.3 range. The reasons are obvious: Atletico has lost no home game this season in LaLiga and only conceded four goals. But also the Russians are in form in the domestic league. After 21 laps they are at the top of the table. It is clear that Madrid must win in this home game and this as clearly as possible. Because in the second leg in Moscow also Nice expressed great effort and scored no goal. We expect a game in the first leg with some goals and Atletico as the winner.
Atletico Madrid:
In the strong Group C of this year’s Champions League, the Spaniards finished only third place – and this despite Madrid losing only one game. Especially the two draws against Qarabag made sure that Atletico only wintered in the Europa League. In the 1/16 finals, the Spaniards scored the same number of goals – as before in six Champions League games. In the first leg, it looked early on as if Atletico would have trouble in the Europa League. After the 0: 1 deficit they turned the game, however, and won 4: 1. With this result, the Spaniards started in the home game, with Gameiro in the seventh minute, the 1/16 finals final decision.
In the domestic league the captains conceded last weekend a painful defeat. With a victory in Barcelona, Atletico could have reduced the gap to two points. However, Atletico had no chance and scored only once on the opposing goal. As a result of this defeat, the gap in the table rose to eight points. Thus, Atletico has gambled the opportunity on the title. Although there are still eleven rounds to play, Barcelona will not be naked. This leaves Atletico in this season only the Europa League. Because in the Copa del Rey the captains quit in the quarterfinals against Sevilla. In today’s game we expect a clear victory of the home team. Atlectio Madrid will be clear in the first leg, so that they will not win in Russia.
Lokomotiv Moscow :
In Russia last weekend the championship started again after a long winter break. For Lokomotiv Moscow – the current championship leader – there was a direct derby on the program. Spartak Moscow was at the Lokomotiv Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Over 20,000 spectators did not see a single goal in icy cold weather. This draw reduced Krasnodar’s deficit to seven points. Moscow is required in the remaining nine games everything. Especially the last three games will provide for the decision of the season. After all, the Moscow have lost only three games so far – since October, the team is unbeaten. On offense, Miranchuk and Farfan score goals.
The former Schalke player is the top scorer of the Russians with his eight goals. In the game against Atletico, the Peruvian is likely to miss due to injury. In the Europa League Lokomotive was dissolved into a simple group, only Copenhagen – the 1/16 Final opponent of Atletico – was a strong opponent. Accordingly, the Russians won this group F with eleven points. Surprisingly, Moksau conceded the only loss to Sheriff Tiraspol. After the group stage, the Russians hit Nice. In the first leg in France Lokomotive won 2: 3. Thus, the progress was already almost sealed. Certainly, Atletico Madrid will be a stronger opponent, and yet Moscow can count on chances to progress.
The situation is completely different in the Russian Cup. The team of trainer Semin disappointed all along the line. Already in the 1/16 finals was for the capital city final stadium, this against a second division. The match in September compensated for the Moscow just before the end to 2: 2. In extra time Klenkin scored the winner for the outsider.
PREDICTION: Over 2.5 goals @ 1.90
