The second legs of the round of 16 in the 2019/20 UEFA Champions League begin this week. There are four matches to look forward to including the meeting between Liverpool and Atletico Madrid on Wednesday the 11th of March.
The first leg ended 1-0 in favour of Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital a few weeks ago so there is all to play for in this game.
Liverpool come into the match having returned to winning ways at home against Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday. The Reds won the match 2-1 but it was not a convincing performance and they were forced to come from a goal behind to take maximum points.
Things you love to see 😍✊ pic.twitter.com/MicvKjWu9y— Liverpool FC (@LFC) March 8, 2020
Things you love to see 😍✊ pic.twitter.com/MicvKjWu9y
That was their first win in 3 matches having previously lost 3-0 at Watford in the Premier League and 2-0 at Chelsea in the FA Cup. In fact, Liverpool have lost 3 of their last 5 games in all competitions. However, they remain strong at home and Liverpool are undefeated in their last 42 games at Anfield in all competitions.
Trends show Liverpool are undefeated in their last 17 home Champions League matches including the 3 games they have played this season. There have been some excellent victories over teams including Manchester City, Roma, Paris Saint-Germain, Napoli and Barcelona. Liverpool have had no problem scoring goals at home in the Champions League this season but have yet to keep a clean sheet and that is something they will be hoping to change come the end of this match.
Atletico Madrid travel to Liverpool having been held to a 2-2 draw at home by Sevilla in La Liga on the weekend. It was an important game in terms of qualifying for the Champions League last season and the draw means Atletico Madrid remain outside the top four in Spain.
That result means they have failed to win the last 2 games having previously been held to a draw against Espanyol away from home, also in La Liga. However, Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in their last 6 matches in all competitions including wins over Granada and Villarreal at home in La Liga plus Liverpool at home in the first leg of this Champions League tie.
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The main concern four Atletico Madrid fans will be their away form and they have failed to win any of their last 5 away matches in all competitions. Away form in the Champions League shows just one victory in their last 6 games and they have lost each of their last 2 on the road.
Team news and Liverpool have doubts over the fitness of Jordan Henderson, Alisson Becker and Andy Robertson.
Atletico Madrid are without Dario Poveda Romera for the remainder of the season due to a knee injury and Thomas Lemar is a doubt due to a thigh problem.
This should be a very good game to watch with Atletico Madrid trying to defend and hit Liverpool on the break to score the crucial away goal. However, judging by the way Liverpool destroyed Barcelona last season the hosts could secure the victory they require to progress to the quarter-final of the competition