Atletico Madrid host Borussia Dortmund tonight in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash.
The Spanish giants overcame last year’s finalists, Inter Milan, in a penalty shootout in the last round after a 2-1 win in the second leg salvaged the tie.
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Atletico Madrid are looking for a semi-final spotCredit: Getty
Diego Simeone’s men trailed Inter 2-0 on aggregate but pulled off a fine comeback to set up this mouthwatering encounter.
Their opponents haven’t been great domestically, but they topped the so-called group of death in the Champions League and comfortably saw off PSV to reach this stage.
Plus, Edin Terzic’s side will play the second leg at home in front of 81,000 fans.
But the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium is also a fierce place to play football, and the hosts will be looking to feed off that energy when these two meet.
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Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund: Simeone’s mission
Simeone is an Atletico Madrid icon.
He’s been the club’s manager since 2011 and has won nearly everything available to Atletico, including LaLiga twice and two Europa Leagues.
However, the one trophy that has escaped his grasp is the Champions League.
They’ve come close on numerous occasions, losing to inner-city rivals Real Madrid in the final twice.
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However, with the way the draw has opened up, another final is certainly possible.
Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Manchester City and Real are all on the other side of the draw, so if Atletico beat Dortmund, they would face either Paris Saint-Germain or Barcelona.
Given the way they are playing this year, either of these could be there for the taking.
Then, once you get to a final, you just never know, meaning Simeone has the chance to cap off his time with Atletico spectacularly.
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Simeone is arguably Atletico’s greatest managerCredit: Getty
Atlético de Madrid have won two of their last three matches against Borussia Dortmund in European competition (L1); this after failing to win any of their first three against the German outfit (D1 L2).
Borussia Dortmund have kept a clean sheet in all three of their victories against Atlético de Madrid in European competition, with the most recent win coming in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League in 2018/19 (4-0).
Borussia Dortmund have won each of their last two away games against Spanish opposition in the UEFA Champions League, although both of those came against Sevilla (3-2 in 2021 and 4-1 in 2022). Prior to that, they had only won one of their 16 away games against Spanish sides in European competition (D5 L10).
Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund: Team news
The big news for the hosts is that Antoine Griezmann is fit after a slight ankle injury.
But Thomas Lemar is out with a ruptured Achilles, and he is likely to be joined on the sidelines by Mario Hermoso.
Memphis Depay is also doubtful due to a knock, meaning Alvaro Morata should lead the line.
For Dortmund, Ramy Bensebaini is absent due to a knee issue, while Donyell Malen is also doubtful with a hip injury.
Jadon Sancho should start in attack.
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Griezmann is backCredit: Getty
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In games played at the Vicente Calderón and the Cívitas Metropolitano, Atlético de Madrid have never lost in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League under Diego Simeone (P16 W10 D6). They’ve only conceded four goals across those 16 matches, keeping 12 clean sheets in the process.
Borussia Dortmund have only won one of their last 10 away games in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, suffering defeats in eight of those (D1). Their last away win at the quarter-final stage of the competition was in March 1997 (1-0 v Auxerre), going winless in their last five quarter-finals played on the road (D2 L3).
Since the start of the 2013-14 season, there have been 15 two-legged ties between Spanish and German teams in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League – from those 15, the Spanish side has progressed on 13 occasions (87%).
Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund: What has been said?
Simeone is anticipating a very tough match for his side.
He said: “We drew a very tough match [against Dortmund].
“The Germans are always strong and there will be a great atmosphere in the return leg. So we need a good first leg [at home].
“We find a team that fought to win its championship last year and that this year is experiencing a season similar to ours. It will be tough.”
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Dortmund recently beat Bayern Munich in the BundesligaCredit: Getty
Of the teams remaining in the competition, Borussia Dortmund (368) and Atlético de Madrid (342) are the two sides who have averaged the most high pressures per game in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Antoine Griezmann is Atlético de Madrid’s all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League (32 goals), and has netted six goals in eight appearances in the competition this term. Should he find the net in this game, he would equal his best scoring season in a single campaign (seven in 2015-16, when Atlético reached the final).
Based on the quality of shots on target faced, Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel is the goalkeeper who has prevented the most goals in the UEFA Champions League this season (+4.9; 4 goals conceded from 8.9 expected goals on target).
Rodrigo De Paul has created the most chances through line-breaking passes in the UEFA Champions League this season (8), while he’s also the Atlético de Madrid player with the most line-breaking passes in the final third (39) in the competition this term.
Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund: Date and how to follow
This Champions League quarter-final first-leg clash will take place on Wednesday April 10.
Kick-off at the Wanda Metropolitano is scheduled for 8pm UK time.
The match will be broadcast on TNT Sports 2.
talkSPORT will have regular updates throughout and talkSPORT.com will have all of the reaction from Madrid.
To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.
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