Atletico Madrid vs RB Leipzig: Preview, predictions and lineup

Atletico Madrid host RB Leipzig on Thursday as both sides begin their 2024/25 Champions League campaigns with a tough test.

Diego Simeone’s side have never had an easy game in Europe’s top competition but they haven’t been that good in recent seasons. After losing twice in the final to city rivals Real Madrid in mid-2010, the Spanish giants have only progressed past the quarter-finals once since the 2015/16 campaign.

Atletico have made an encouraging start to the season, however, winning three of their opening five La Liga games and keeping four clean sheets. For RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga, things have been the same, with two wins and a draw in the first three games.

Marco Rose has a strong squad with some good additions in the summer and Leipzig will be hoping to progress beyond the last 16 for the first time since 2019/2020. Matches against Atletico, Juventus and Liverpool in the first three games of the newly expanded Champions League will test their fitness.

Here it is 90 min a guide to an interesting battle in the capital of Spain.

LocationLocation: Madrid, Spain
The platform: Metropolitano Stadium
The day: Thursday 19 September
First time: 20:00 BST / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT
You have a refereeIvan Kruzliak (SVK)
VAR: Tomasz Kwiatkowski (POL)

Atletico Madrid vs RB Leipzig H2H Record (All Time)

Current form (all competitions)

Simeone is without Reinildo and Pablo Barrios for Thursday’s clash with Leipzig but has a clean bill of health for the rest of his talented squad.

Julian Alvarez and Conor Gallagher scored their first Atletico goals against Valencia at the weekend after a summer move, likely to start against Leipzig.

Alvarez could be replaced by another new recruit in Alexander Sorloth. The Norwegian has shut down club and country since scoring on the opening day of the season and could be used as a substitute for his former employers.

Atletico’s back three will be tested by Leipzig’s attacking dynamos at the Metropolitano and will need plenty of support from attacking midfielders Marcos Llorente and Samuel Lino.

Atletico Madrid predicted to face RB Leipzig (3-5-2): Oblak; Gimenez, Le Normand, Azpilicueta; Llorente, De Paul, Koke, Gallagher, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez.

Leipzig are without two midfielders for the trip to Spain, with Austrian Xaver Schlager and summer signing Assan Ouedraogo both out. Arthur Vermeeren, who is on loan from Madrid, could slot into midfield.

Despite scoring four goals during the international break with Slovenia, Sesko is yet to open his Bundesliga account this season. However, his starting position alongside Lois Openda and Xavi Simons in attack is safe.

RB Leipzig predicted to face Atletico Madrid (3-4-3): Gulacsi; Geertruida, Orban, Lukeba; Henrichs, Haidara, Seiwald, Raum; Painters, Sesko, Simons.

Although both sides have kept a combined six clean sheets from eight league games this season, the Champions League often provides unparalleled entertainment. The natural pace of the competition is much faster than Europe’s domestic competitions and the neutrals can reap the benefits of that when preparing for Atletico’s clash with Leipzig.

Both clubs have plenty of attacking firepower, with Antoine Griezmann, Alvarez and Sorloth up against Simons, Openda and Sesko. Atletico and Leipzig will be comfortable playing in opposing positions, which could force a shootout between the two forward lines.

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 3-2 RB Leipzig

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