Atletico Madrid host Borussia Dortmund tonight in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.
The Spanish giants beat last year’s runners-up Inter Milan in the final after a 2-1 win in the second leg kept the tie going.
Diego Simeone’s men led Inter 2-0 on aggregate and pulled off an excellent comeback to set up for this delightful encounter.
Their warring sides have not been wonderful domestically, however, they have dominated the so-called Group of Death in the Champions League and gently beat PSV to triumph at this stage.
In addition, Edin Terzic’s team will play the match at home in front of 81,000 fans.
But the Wanda Metropolitano stadium is also a position where betting football is fierce, and the hosts will feed off that power when those two go head-to-head.
Simeone is an icon of Atletico Madrid.
He has been the club’s coach since 2011 and has won almost everything with Atletico, winning two La Liga titles and two Europa League titles.
However, the trophy that has eluded him is the Champions League.
They arrived here on several occasions, losing twice to their city centre rivals Real Madrid in the final.
However, as the draw has been opened, another final is possible.
Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester City and Real are all on the other side of the table, so if Atletico were to beat Dortmund, they would face either Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona.
Given the way they’re betting this year, either one can be in play.
Then, once you get to the final, you never know if Simeone has a chance to end his time with Atletico in impressive fashion.
Atletico XI: Oblak, Molina, Witsel, Giménez, Azpilicueta, Lino, De Paul, Koke, Llorente, Griezmann, Morata
Dortmund XI: Kobel, Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen, Sabitzer, Can, Nmecha, Adeyemi, Füllkrug, Sancho
Simeone expects a very difficult match for his team.
He said: “We had a very difficult draw [against Dortmund].
“The Germans are strong and there will be an intelligent atmosphere in the second leg. That’s why we want a smart first leg (at home).
“We’re back with a team that fought to win their championship last year and is having a season just like ours this year. It’s going to be tough. “
The first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals will be played on Wednesday, April 10.
The start at the Wanda Metropolitano is scheduled for 20:00 UK time.
The match will be broadcast on TNT Sports 2.
talkSPORT will have normal updates and talkSPORT. com will have all the reactions from Madrid.
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