Atletico Madrid vs FC Porto
Atletico Madrid’s quest for Champions League glory starts this Wednesday as they’ll host Porto at the Wanda Metropolitano.
These two teams are aiming for a headstart here in Group B especially since this is one of the tougher draws in the competition.
The other Group B fixture between Liverpool and AC Milan will also take place during the midweek in what will be a battle of European royalty. And here at SBOTOP, we got you covered for that game with this match preview.
Los Rojiblancos and the Dragons have had auspicious starts this term as they are yet to be defeated in all of their games so far, so something has to give when these two square off anew.
Without further ado, today, let us examine how Atletico Madrid and Porto stack up for this fun encounter.
Talking Points
Atletico Madrid must figure out the right attacking combo
After winning the La Liga trophy last term, Diego Simeone and his men have their eyes set on translating their domestic success to continental glory this time around.
Los Rojiblancos enter this game on the back of a 2-1 victory over Espanyol last weekend, although that match suggests that they may need more time to gel especially with their newest addition.
Antoine Griezmann wasn’t able to establish himself in his Atleti return but Diego Simeone’s side eked out the victory thanks to second half goals from Yannick Carrasco and Thomas Lemar.
Joao Felix, meanwhile, came off the bench to replace Griezmann after being sidelined by his nagging injuries but all he got was a yellow card.
For Atletico Madrid to make a deep push in the tournament, it’s up for Diego Simeone to find the proper attacking partners alongside the evergreen Luis Suarez in their 3-4-2-1 formation.
Angel Correa is a surefire candidate given his performances recently, but the other forward position is up for grabs between Antoine Griezmann, Joao Felix, Matheus Cunha, and Thomas Lemar.
Porto have weapons to neutralise Atletico Madrid
Porto raised eyebrows when they eliminated Juventus in the Round of 16 and they’ll aim for a similar type of run this season, if not better.
Like Atleti, Sergio Conceicao’s side have yet to lose this season, getting 11 points in their first five matches in Portugal’s Primeira Liga.
Overall, Porto are boasting a 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions since their first-leg defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-finals last season.
We can expect Champions League 2021 highlights from Porto’s top hitmen in Sergio Oliveira and Mehdi Taremi, and they’ll be backstopped by veterans who can cause problems for Los Rojiblancos.
Bruno Costa is excelling in his return to Porto while Jesus Corona and Mateus Uribe will look to carry their international form after representing Mexico and Colombia respectively last summer.
Another guy to look out for is Luis Diaz, who’s off to a sizzling start this season with three goals and one assist after their first five games.
History
Atletico Madrid and Porto are going to meet for the ninth time ever in European competition.
Prior to this Wednesday’s fixture, Diego Simeone’s side hold the slim advantage with three wins while Sergio Conceicao’s group have two victories along with three draws.
This will be the third time that they are bunched together in the same Champions League group. Porto won twice against Atleti in 2009/10 while the latter also did the double in 2013/14.
But overall, we are inclined to favour Los Rojiblancos for this one since they have an impressive home record against Portuguese sides in European competition – winning seven, drawing two, and losing only twice in their last 11 matches.
Also, Porto have only won nine out of 31 times against their Spanish counterparts in European competition and they have a long way to go to turn such record around.
Betting Tip
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Atletico Madrid vs FC Porto | Atletico Madrid Asian Handicap -1.00 @ 2.17 |
| September 16, 03:00 (GMT+8) |
The Champions League 2021 odds suggest that Atletico Madrid are going to start their group stage campaign on the right foot.
Atletico Madrid are priced at 1.67 to win, while Porto are the underdogs at 5.20 and a draw is at 3.60 at the 1×2 market.
Los Rojiblancos have yet to make a statement this season and this is the perfect time to do it considering their underwhelming outings in this competition for the past few seasons.
The attack-minded Dragons, meanwhile, are standing in their way hoping to recreate their surprising run last term but we figure that they’ll struggle to break down a hungry Atletico Madrid squad who is known for their formidable backline.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR ( ) BETS ARE WORTH: |
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|---|---|---|---|
| = €20 (Highly confident) |
 = €10 (CONFIDENT) |
= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT) |
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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