Champions League team news and preview: RB Leipzig vs Atletico
With Atalanta and PSG kicking off the Champions League quarter-final ties, attention quickly turns to RB Leipzig's clash with Atletico Madrid. Like Wednesday's quarter-finalists, the two teams had secured their spot at this stage back in March, but the Coronavirus pandemic saw this tie pushed back to mid-August.
RB Leipzig are looking to land their first European honour in their short history, while Atletico Madrid are hoping to reach their fourth major European final having reached the stage in 1974, 2014 and 2016. On each occasion, however, Atletico were losing finalists as they hope to go one step further this time around.
When is kick off?
Thursday 13th August, 20:00 GMT
Where is this match?
Estadio Jose Alvalade, Lisbon
Where can I watch it?
BT Sport 1
How they qualified?
For both sides, they managed to breeze past Premier League opposition to secure their place in the quarter-finals. RB Leipzig piled further misery on a despondent Tottenham side as they secured a 1-0 win in north London, before easing to a 3-0 win over Jose Mourinho's side back on home turf in a fairly routine 4-0 aggregate triumph for the Bundesliga side.
Atletico's progression to the quarter-final was far more dramatic as they earned a 4-2 aggregate win over 2019 Champions League victors Liverpool. Taken to extra time at Anfield, it seemed as though Roberto Firmino's first home goal of the season would be the perfect foundation to take the Reds through to the next round. However, Marcos Llorente struck twice before Alvaro Morata sealed their quarter-final spot on Merseyside.
Team News
RB Leipzig are no longer able to call upon top scorer Timo Werner after he elected against helping the German side in the Champions League after his move to Chelsea was completed. Hwang Hee-Chan has joined from Salzburg, but is ineligible, while Julian Nagelsmann is hoping Marcel Halstenberg can overcome a back issue to start in defence. Ibrahima Konate is ruled out, however.
In the Atletico camp, key midfielder Thomas Partey will be assessed, with the Arsenal target suffering with a muscle complaint, but two players who won't play any part here are Angel Correa and Sime Vrsaljko. The duo recenty tested positive for Coronavirus and are self-isolating in Madrid.
Predicted XIs
RB Leipzig (3421): Gulacsi; Klostermann, Upamecano, Halstenberg; Mukiele, Laimer, Sabitzer, Angelino; Nkunku, Olmo; Schick
Atletico Madrid (442): Oblak; Trippier, Savic, Gimenez, Lodi; Llorente, Partey, Niguez, Koke; Felix, Morata
Key Battle - Konrad Laimer vs Thomas Partey
Much to the delight of Arsenal fans, Konrad Laimer dominated the midfield in RB Leipzig's 3-0 second leg win over Tottenham back in March, making eight tackles, the sixth most in a Champions League match this season, and the Austrian ball winner will be key if they are to overcome Atletico in this one-off tie. Boasting WhoScored strengths of 'defensive contribution' and 'tackling', the 23-year-old has the means to control the midfield to limit Atletico's attacking capability.
Flipping the coin, Thomas Partey is another Gunners fans will be monitoring in Lisbon. The Ghana international has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates with the 27-year-old a key component for Diego Simeone's side. Indeed, no player has won possession in the midfield third more times than Partey (45) in the Champions League this season and having garnered a WhoScored rating of 7.55, the Atletico ace has a big role to play as Los Colchoneros look to land a semi-final berth.
Prediction - RB Leipzig 0-2 Atletico Madrid
