Key events
A decent record.
16- In games played at the Vicente Calderón and the Cívitas Metropolitano, Atlético de Madrid have never lost in the knockout stages of the Champions League under Simeone (P16 W10 D6) and they only conceded four goals in those 16 matches, keeping 12 clean sheets in them. Fort. pic.twitter.com/WlJS2Sl0q5
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) April 10, 2024
It is looking a little lively outside.
Wrap your ears around Football Weekly with yours truly.
Starting lineups
Atlético (5-3-2): Oblak; Molina, Witsel, Giménez, Azpilicueta, Lino; Llorente, Koke, De Paul; Griezmann, Morata.
Subs: Moldovan, Gomis, Paulista, Savic, Reinildo, Saul, Riquelme, Vermeeren, Barrios, Correa, El Jebari.
Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Kobel; Ryerson, Hummels, Schlotterbeck, Maatsen; Sabitzer, Can; Sancho, Nmecha, Adeyemi; Füllkrug.
Subs: Meyer, Lotka, Ozcan, Haller, Reus, Duranville, Wolf, Moukoko, Brandt
Preamble
After a quiet night of Champions League football we go again. Atletico play host to Dortmund, sitting fourth and fifth in their respective domestic leagues. If we are being honest it is the least enticing of the four quarter-final ties. We should, however, not be negative about what will be an intriguing battle.
Atletico have the highest-paid coach in the world and a squad laden with talent. They have, arguably, the best goalkeeper in the world in Jan Oblak and at the other end of the pitch the permanently cool Antoine Griezmann. In even better news for the hosts, they were given the weekend off so everyone in Spain could focus on the Copa del Rey final, so should feel pretty fresh.
Dortmund, on the other hand, wish they didn’t play last weekend, losing 1-0 at home to Stuttgart to add to the pessimism at the German club. On the upside, they also have a plethora of talents at their disposal and if they can put together a decent 90 minutes, they can mix it with the best of them. Jadon Sancho has showed promise since returning to Dortmund and would like to prove himself in the Champions League spotlight.
Anyway, let’s hope for a cracker!
Kick-off: 8pm BST
