Our prediction for this Champions League match:
Atletico Madrid
Match Time & Date:
10/04/2024
21:00
Prediction: 2-1
Borussia Dortmund
Atletico Madrid play host to Borussia Dortmund at their Estadio Wanda Metropolitano in the Champions League quarter-finals, first leg. Los Rojiblancos were not in action in La Liga at the weekend, meaning that tired legs should not prove to be a big problem for the home side. Both Stefan Savic and Alvaro Morata should be recalled to the starting XI after the duo came off the bench in a 2-1 win over Villarreal, while Thomas Lemar and Mario Hermoso remain on the sidelines with injuries.
The Bundesliga outfit, on the other hand, set up a meeting with Atletico Madrid by beating PSV in the two-legged tie, but they will have a much bigger fish to fry against los Rojiblancos, who have turned their stadium into a real fortress. Borussia defender Nico Schlotterbeck is back from suspension, while both Ramy Bensebaini and Donyell Malen remain in the recovery room.
Highlighted Player (Antoine Griezmann):
Anthony Griezmann is a French forward born on 21st March 1991 in Macon, and he is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most exciting footballers at the moment. The pacey striker started showing his potential shortly after coming through Real Sociedad’s youth academy and he went on to score 46 goals in 179 league appearances for La Real. Excellent displays in Spanish la Liga saw him become a target for a number of top clubs, but he eventually choose to sign for Atletico Madrid, and that proved to be a very good decision.
Griezmann continued the rich vein of form at Vicente Calderon, scoring some important goals as los Colchoneros enjoyed domestic and European success, while also becoming a key member of the France national team.
Playing as a winger or second striker, Griezmann possesses impressive technical skills, he is a strong finisher and still finds time to work hard for his side, so no wonder he is widely regarded as one of the leading forwards on the continent. He won the U19 European Championship with France and is tipped to lead Les Bleus to glory on senior level as well.
Highlighted Team (Borussia Dortmund):
1909 by eighteen footballers from Dortmund. Die Schwarzgelben (The Black and Yellows) play their home games at Signal Iduna Park, but the stadium’s original name is Westfalenstadion. The capacity of Borussia’s home ground is 81,539 and it has to be noted that the stadium was opened in 1974. BVB have the highest average attendance in the world of football.
Borussia Dortmund have won eight Bundesliga trophies, while clinching the German Cup title three times.
However, the club’s biggest success came in 1997 when they outplayed Juventus in the Champions League final. Karl-Heinz Riedle scored a brace for BVB in the 3-1 win over Juve, with Lars Ricken finding the net in the title game as well. Borussia’s biggest rivals are Schalke 04 and the two teams square off against each other in the Revierderby.
