A domestically buoyant Atlético Madrid will hope to stabilise their performances on the European stage against a Bayern Munich side looking to avoid a run of three straight UEFA Champions League (UCL) draws for the first time in almost 20 years.
Match News and Current Form
Atlético Madrid remained within touching distance of the La Liga summit as a 2-0 weekend win extended their unbeaten run in competitive action to nine games (W8, D1), with their only blemish against Stuttgart making up a part of their mixed start on the European stage (W1, D1, L1). Evidently not as infallible as days gone by, Simeone’s 55% clean sheet rate across his first 69 UCL games at Atleti’s helm has been followed by just 12 from the following 65 to this point (18%). That may go some way to explaining their current wobbles as the Spanish giants seek just a second league phase win in 2026 (D2, L2).
Sitting one point above Atleti in the UCL league phase after drawing in the previous two rounds, Bayern Munich also had to settle for shared spoils in their weekend Der Klassiker clash which ended 2-2. Continuing in the absence of their recovering manager Vincent Kompany, his assistant Aaron Danks will take the reins for a fourth game (W2, D1) after insisting last week he isn’t a ‘mini Vinnie’, but the team’s performance levels haven’t dropped in his absence given their 11-goal haul in three games. Bayern might need to be equally prolific here, seeing as they have just one clean sheet across their last 18 UCL trips.
Head-to-Head History
Atlético Madrid have won just twice across eight prior European Cup/UCL H2Hs (D2, L4). Despite that negative record, Atleti have never lost a home H2H (W2, D1).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Atlético Madrid have found the net in their last 20 UCL home games.
None of Atleti’s last 12 UCL group/league phase home games ended level (W10, L2).
Bayern’s last nine UCL away games saw both teams score.
Bayern Munich have scored at least once in their last 24 UCL matches.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Scoring for Atleti at the weekend, Alejandro Grimaldo was unbeaten in five of his six H2Hs against Bayern while a Leverkusen player (G2), but has lost all six of his career UCL meetings against the German giants. Bayern’s Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane has scored in each of his last ten UCL appearances for the club and could equal the all-time record set by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018 with one more strike here.
Johnny Cardoso has missed Atleti’s last two games through injury, while Bayern trio Serge Gnabry, Ismael Saibari and Michael Olise were all forced off during their last game.
For all the latest team news, please check the Flashscore match centre.
Betting Analysis
Goals are often a given when Bayern play, so backing both teams to score and over 2.5 goals could be the play.
Author: Matthew Billon
