Atletico Madrid vs Juventus, Rd of 16 1st Leg, VM Sport Extra 1 & BT Sport 3, 8pm

Mr.Nice Guy

1st Leg Match Odds

Atletico Madrid 15/8
Draw 15/8
Juventus 9/5

This looks the pick of the games tonight as Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Madrid to take on his former team's city rivals, while former Juventus striker Alvaro Morata may feature up top for Atletico.

Simeone has a good record against Italian opposition having never lost to them in the Champions League. Allegri's team, however, have won four of their last five away games in the knockout stages of the competition.

Khedira won't be involved as he has been ruled out for a month with an irregular heartbeat issue; Lucas Hernandez is expected to miss out for Atletico with a sprain but Koke returns.

Is this going to be another game where the defences come out on top? Can Griezmann get the better of Chiellini and Bonucci? Will Ronaldo be able to get the better of Godin and Gimenez (not forgetting Oblak)?

I'll go for 1-1.

ERG89

Don't think Atletico have been at their best this season but are doing well domestically, a lot of signings in the last few years have really struggled for them; fancy Juve to go through even though they have had cold performances this season vs United, Young Boys, Parma and Atalanta. Games I think they would have done better with in the recent past.
Usually I'd say these have easily the best 2 defences in the competition but I don't think that is true this season.

Johner

0-0.

GavRedKing

Having watched Juventus all season, they've been a bit below their best for the last few matches, mind you, they've still won nearly every one of them and the opposition have been of poor standard, its almost like, with an insurmountable 13pt lead in Italy, they've all but focused on finally getting over the line in the CL.

I'd expect them to get a positive result tonight anyway, Ronaldo has a good record against Atletico too.

The Golden Miller

GavRedKing wrote: »

Having watched Juventus all season, they've been a bit below their best for the last few matches, mind you, they've still won nearly every one of them and the opposition have been of poor standard, its almost like, with an insurmountable 13pt lead in Italy, they've all but focused on finally getting over the line in the CL.

I'd expect them to get a positive result tonight anyway, Ronaldo has a good record against Atletico too.

To a point. Much of that good record is versus a pre-Simeone mid-table Atletico. When Atletico were one of the best in Europe, his record against them was atrocious. It picked up again, once Atletico fatigued and regressed the past 2 or 3 years

Liam O

The Golden Miller wrote: »

To a point. Much of that good record is versus a pre-Simeone mid-table Atletico. When Atletico were one of the best in Europe, his record against them was atrocious. It picked up again, once Atletico fatigued and regressed the past 2 or 3 years

Can you elaborate on this 'atrocious' record? Or is this your yearly Ronaldo bashing?

Mr.Nice Guy

Teams are in:

Atletico Madrid XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Gimenez, Godin, Filipe Luis; Saul, Thomas, Rodri, Koke; Griezmann, Diego Costa.

Juventus XI: Szczesny; De Sciglio, Bonucci, Chiellini, Alex Sandro; Bentancur, Pjanic, Matuidi; Dybala, Mandzukic, Ronaldo.

If Morata is to face his old club it will have to be as a sub. Much more fun to watch Diego Costa anyway.

The Golden Miller

Liam O wrote: »

Can you elaborate on this 'atrocious' record? Or is this your yearly Ronaldo bashing?

Well between 2013-16, when Atletico were one of the best in Europe, he scored one goal against them in Europe, a penalty. His league and cup record against them in this period doesn't warrant great discussion either

The Floyd p

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Well between 2013-16, when Atletico were one of the best in Europe, he scored one goal against them in Europe, a penalty. His league and cup record against them in this period doesn't warrant great discussion either

Shhhhhh, you can't criticise be objective about him in these parts.

The Talking Bread

The Golden Miller wrote: »

To a point. Much of that good record is versus a pre-Simeone mid-table Atletico. When Atletico were one of the best in Europe, his record against them was atrocious. It picked up again, once Atletico fatigued and regressed the past 2 or 3 years

Why do you have to always go out of your way to find faults with him.... ..... He's made a fool of your predictions / "logic" up so many times over the years!

It's like a running joke! Ronaldo is a very different player than in 2013 and even 2016 anyway, just like Athletico have changed

GavRedKing

Surprised to see Dybala starting TBH.

I'd thought theyed go more rigid away and spring him from the bench if needed, wonder will they go 4-4-2 diamond with Ronaldo and Mandzukic or go 4-3-3 and stick Dybala and Mandzukic on the wings.

The Golden Miller

The Talking Bread wrote: »

Why do you have to always go out of your way to find faults with him.... ..... He's made a fool of your predictions / "logic" up so many times over the years!

It's like a running joke! Ronaldo is a very different player than in 2013 and even 2016 anyway, just like Athletico have changed

Another poster said he had a great record against Atletico. I just pointed out that when they were at their best, he was anonymous against them for 3 season, in the league and cups

Liam O

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Another poster said he had a great record against Atletico. I just pointed out that when they were at their best, he was anonymous against them for 3 season, in the league and cups

Ah well he scored 2 hat tricks against them in 16/17 so that makes up for it.

Backstreet Moyes

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Another poster said he had a great record against Atletico. I just pointed out that when they were at their best, he was anonymous against them for 3 season, in the league and cups

Hatrick in champions league semi final 2017
Hatrick in league 2016 away from home

The Golden Miller

Liam O wrote: »

Ah well he scored 2 hat tricks against them in 16/17 so that makes up for it.

Yes, one of those games was in Europe. Atletico were atrocious in the first game, universally criticised for looking fatigued after so many years on the bounce playing a tiring grinding game. When they regrouped for the second leg, he was again anonymous.

The first leg against Atletico was only the second time Ronaldo scored more than one goal in a game against a top club in Europe, the first time being in the previous round against Bayern which included an offside goal, and Bayern being rode by the ref.

At that point, it wasn't a great record for what many believe is the greatest goal scorer of all time, was it?

justshane

Game of the round I think, some placeyers on the pitch for both sides. I don't remember these playing in the champions league before?

Agent Coulson

Hoping for a cracker of a game.

RugbyLover123

Really wish they could do without all the hugging and hand shakes before hand in the tunnel

Mushy

High risk by the defender there. Should have been given too

Agent Coulson

Costa booked for the most stupid thing ever and out of the second leg.

Mr.Nice Guy

Good effort from Ronaldo. Oblak saved well. Good tempo to this game.

The Golden Miller

Agent Coulson wrote: »

Costa booked for the most stupid thing ever and out of the second leg.

Just doesn't learn

Mushy

Surrounding the ref again...they're relentless. Amazing ref didn't give card for that though, fairly blatant

Mr.Nice Guy

Penalty to Atletico! Was the foul in the box?

VAR intervenes and it's changed to a free. Looks correct on the replay.

Agent Coulson

Outside the box and right decision by VAR.

CalamariFritti

Was there a foul even, struggling to see it. There was a hand briefly on the shoulder then it looks like a dive. No?

monkey9

What are these Atletico players moaning about? It's been checked on tv you's dopes.

sacamano

These guys are brain dead. Arguing the VAR decision makes absolutely no sense.

monkey9

CalamariFritti wrote: »

Was there a foul even, struggling to see it. There was a hand briefly on the shoulder then it looks like a dive. No?

He did clip his ankles.

Mushy

sacamano wrote: »

These guys are brain dead. Arguing the VAR decision makes absolutely no sense.

Var didn't give one that I think should have been in first minute or so, probably feeling hard done by

sacamano

But this was a decision that was reviewed by VAR so it’s idiotic to complain about it.

monkey9

Mushy wrote: »

Var didn't give one that I think should have been in first minute or so, probably feeling hard done by

That would have been checked as well, there was definitely no penalty there.

Mushy

monkey9 wrote: »

That would have been checked as well, there was definitely no penalty there.

It was, so don't know why it wasn't given as was late and definitely caught Griezman. Maybe the 'clear and obvious errors part of it

Mr.Nice Guy

That was naughty on Ronaldo.

Mr.Nice Guy

Thomas Partey out of the second leg with a silly tackle.

0-0 at the break. Evenly balanced game as it stands.

Mr.Nice Guy

What a chance for Costa. Couldn't take it. Poor effort.

The Golden Miller

Class by Griezmann, woeful by Costa and Ronaldo before that

Mushy

That wasn't even close to being on target

The Golden Miller

Atletico never get much luck in this competition

Bobby Baccala

What is going on here

Mr.Nice Guy

Didn't spot the fingertip save from Szczesny. Great stop.

martyos121

MORATA!! Delighted for him!

The Golden Miller

Deserved. Was coming

Mr.Nice Guy

MORATAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Would you believe it!

VAR rules it out. Poor Morata denied a goal by VAR just like in the Madrid derby.

Agent Coulson

Perfectly good goal and if this is disallowed it's a told joke.

monkey9

This should be allowed to stand. Not enough in that for a foul.

martyos121

And VAR have ruled it out. Incredibly harsh IMO.

That’s Morata’s career to date in a nutshell. :pac:

The Golden Miller

Nonsense

Agent Coulson

Joke box from the ref.

Mushy

Ah here

monkey9

That is a ridiculous decision by the ref, utter nonsense. A complete dive by Chiellini.