Atl. Madrid vs Lille Prediction: 23/10/2024

Atlético Madrid, a frequent participant in the Champions League, reached the quarter-finals last season but were knocked out by Borussia Dortmund. This year, they started their European campaign with a narrow 2-1 victory over RB Leipzig. However, Diego Simeone’s side suffered a crushing 4-0 defeat away at Benfica’s Estádio da Luz.

As a result, Atlético is expected to bounce back in their next game, especially since they are already out of the race for the Spanish league title. Prior to the international break, they drew 1-1 with Real Madrid in the derby and then had another draw against Real Sociedad. They will now aim to get back on track against Leganés.

Meanwhile, Lille, though not as established in European competitions as Atlético, has shown their capabilities. After overcoming Fenerbahce and Slavia Prague in the summer qualifiers, Lille opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 loss to Sporting Portugal.

However, they bounced back in stunning fashion by defeating reigning European champions Real Madrid 1-0, marking the first time the Spanish giants had been beaten in almost a year. In Ligue 1, Lille also found their form after a tough stretch, securing two consecutive wins against Le Havre (3-0) and Toulouse (2-1), climbing to 5th place before their tricky visit to Monaco.

Atlético’s squad is dealing with some injury issues ahead of the clash with Lille. Marcos Llorente, injured in the previous game against Benfica, is unlikely to feature, and César Azpilicueta is also sidelined. However, Breton defender Le Normand could be back after a recent head injury. Antoine Griezmann, who was rested during the international break, is expected to lead the team once again.

New signings Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sørloth, who joined from Manchester City and Villarreal respectively, have yet to make a significant impact. On the Lille side, Angel Gomes, who missed the last game against Real Madrid due to suspension, will be available, but Andre Gomes is ineligible for this competition. Lille’s injury list also includes Nabil Bentaleb, Ethan Mbappé, Samuel Umtiti, and several other key players. Jonathan David, who scored a decisive penalty against Real Madrid, is expected to start alongside Edon Zhegrova, who has three Ligue 1 goals this season.

 

Prediction

Despite Atlético Madrid’s reputation in the Champions League, they have played 32 consecutive home matches where fewer than 3.5 goals were scored. Lille has followed a similar pattern in 19 of their last 20 away games at this level. Therefore, it would be surprising to see more than three goals in this match.

Prediction: Atlético Madrid 1 : 1 Lille