UEFA Champions League: Atletico Madrid vs Club Brugge - Betting Tips, Odds & Prediction

Atletico Madrid host Club Brugge on Wednesday morning New Zealand time at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in the second leg of their Champions League playoff. With the tie locked at 3-3 on aggregate after a chaotic first leg in Belgium, there’s plenty to play for here.

Atletico blew a two-goal lead in Bruges before Christos Tzolis equalised in the 89th minute. Given Atletico’s defensive record, chances are there will be more drama in this match. I cover all the key angles in myAtletico Madrid vs Club Brugge preview, from team news to form and as well as a sneaky $4.33 bet for those keen to get involved on NZ betting sites.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico got the result they needed over the weekend.

After their collapse in Bruges - which came off the back of a 3-0 thumping by Rayo Vallecano - Atletico’s 4-2 victory over Espanyol on Saturday was much-needed. Alexander Sorloth got a brace, Lookman scored again, and Giuliano Simeone chipped in too. They even managed to rest of few of their big names in the second half ahead of this clash.

Atletico’s home European form has been solid, with three wins from four at the Metropolitano this season. Julian Alvarez has five UCL goals in eight appearances and tends to deliver in these moments, while Griezmann links superbly between the lines.

Their big issue is on defence. They’ve conceded in nine straight Champions League matches. In fact, they haven’t kept a single clean sheet in Europe all season - a stat which should give Club Brugge plenty of hope.

Team News: Pablo Barrios and Nico Gonzalez are both out. Cardoso should start alongside Koke.

Predicted Lineup: Oblak; Molina, Pubill, Hancko, Ruggeri; Koke, Cardoso; Giuliano Simeone, Griezmann, Lookman; Alvarez.

Club Brugge

Betting apps may have them as heavy underdogs, but don’t count Club Brugge out just yet.

They showed real character in the first leg of this tie, recovering from 2-0 down to draw 3-3. Both Tzolis and Raphael Onyedika were standouts, with the former scoring a late leveller, and the latter brilliant through the middle. 

All this to say, a single goal in Madrid could send them through here.

Trouble is, they’re weaker now than they were for the first leg. Onyedika is suspended after his booking in Bruges, while Carlos Forbs is now sidelined with an injury - two massive losses. 

To top it off, their away form in Europe is concerning, with just one win from four on the road in this season’s UCL. However, they’ll draw confidence from the fact that they eliminated Atalanta at this stage last year.

Team News: Onyedika is suspended, Forbs is injured, while Van den Heuvel and Audoor are doubtful.

Predicted Lineup: Mignolet; Sabbe, Ordonez, Mechele, Seys; Stankovic, Vanaken; Tzolis, Diakhon, Vermant; Tresoldi.

• Atletico have conceded in nine consecutive Champions League matches this season.
• Club Brugge have won just one of four away UCL fixtures this campaign.
• Both teams scored in seven of Atletico’s eight league phase matches.
• Atletico haven’t beaten Club Brugge since October 2018.

I expect Atletico to get the job done here, but not without conceding.

They were clinical going forward in the first half in Bruges, scoring twice through Alvarez and Lookman. The collapse came when they sat deep and invited pressure. At home, they tend to dictate the tempo better, and the Metropolitano crowd should help them hold their nerve.

Club Brugge are without Onyedika and Forbs, which means they’ll lack a little pace and energy. Vanaken is great, but he can’t carry the whole side. Tresoldi and Tzolis need to be ruthless when chances come their way - I just don’t think enough will.

A 2-1 or 3-1 scoreline feels about right. For those with betting promotions to use, the BTTS market looks a great shout given Atletico’s defensive weakness and Brugge’s missing pieces.

Atletico Madrid Win and Both Teams to Score @ $4.33

Just to reiterate: Atletico have conceded in every UCL match this season.

Even against a depleted Brugge, I expect that Belgians to nick one. Six different Brugge players have scored twice in the UCL league phase, so they don’t rely on any single figure.

On the flip side, Atletico at home have averaged over two goals per game in Europe. Alvarez, Griezmann, Lookman and Sorloth all offer real goal threats, and their attack looked sharp against Espanyol.

Getting $4.33 at Bet and Play for an Atletico win with both sides scoring is brilliant value, particularly considering it’s landed in each of Atletico’s four home UCL matches this season.