Bayer Leverkusen vs Atletico Madrid preview [UEFA Champions League]

Bayer Leverkusen will welcome Atletico Madrid to the BayArena in a UEFA Champions League last-16 first-leg tie on Tuesday evening.

Leverkusen qualified to the round of 16 this year after finishing second in Group E behind AS Monaco. Atleti eliminated Bayer from the same tournament in 2014/15, in this same round.

Currently eighth in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen's form has been unpredictable in the league. Though yet to lose in the Champions League, having not lost in their previous six Champions League games.

The Germans will go into this first leg on the heels of their back to back Bundesliga wins over Frankfurt (3-0) and away at Augsburg (3-1) - the first time they’ve won back-to-back Bundesliga games in two months. Despite home advantage, they come into this game as underdogs having being offered a win at a price of (3.13) by SportyBet.

For Diego Simeone's men, they proved bookmakers wrong by winning Group D which had Bayern Munich. Going into this game, they are coming with an impressive run in La Liga where they have won three games in a row.

In Atleti's most recent game in La Liga, they thrashed Sporting Gijon 4-1 away during the weekend, with Kevin Gameiro scoring a hat-trick. They are odds-on to grab an away with at (2.46).

The same firm, SportyBet offer that both teams cancel one another after 90 minutes at (3.08)

Atlético Madrid have always gone past the Champions League round of 16 under Diego Simeone (2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16), three seasons in a row. These two teams are no strangers, as Atletico beat Leverkusen 3-2 on penalties in the Vicente Calderon after both teams won their home leg 1-0 in the 2014/2015 season.

Also, Leverkusen have not had it easy against La Liga opponents with 10 wins, 7 draws and 18 losses from 35 matches. Their home record is decent after managing 6 wins, 5 draws and 5 losses from 16 matches.

SportyBet believes the second half of the encounter has the chance of recording more goals at a price of (2.10), while the two teams are offered to score in this meeting at odds of (1.95).

Roger Schmidt’s men are not doing so well in the German top flight with 30 points from 21 league games. They even got eliminated in the group stage of the tourney in the 2015/16 season, but the betting company believes they will score in both halves of the fixture at odds of (4.40), as the visitors are lined up to win both halves of the tie at a price of (7.35).

Even though Javier Hernandez has only scored one goal in six Champions League games this season, his Bundesliga form is not the same. The Mexican striker has scored four goals in their last two league matches, including a brace in their 3-1 win against Augsburg on Friday. Javier Hernandez's efficiency will be key for Leverkusen and has been backed to be the first scorer in this clash at odds of (6.59).

Antoine Griezmann has contributed to 54 per cent of Atletico's Champions League goals since last season, scoring 10 and assisting three of his side's 24 goals in the last two seasons in the Champions League. Griezmann is fancied to score first by SportyBet at (5.39).

With Atlético Madrid keeping 25 clean sheets in 42 games in the Champions League since the 2013/14 season, they hardly concede and so are backed to keep a clean sheet in this tie by SportyBet at (2.54).

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This is a feature by SportyBet