2020-21 UEFA Champions League Last 16: Second Leg – Chelsea vs Atletico Madrid

With a slender lead from the first leg, Chelsea welcome Atletico Madrid to Stamford Bridge, London, for the second leg of their Last 16 tie in 2020-21 UEFA Champions League. 

With a 1-0 lead from the first leg, victory or a draw would see Chelsea advance unless Atletico win by two or more goals, thus allowing the La Liga leaders to advance potentially via away goals if don’t win on overall aggregate although a one goal win would force extra time and possibly penalties.

 

Team News

Embed from Getty Images

Mason Mount and Jorginho are suspended for Chelsea after collecting their third yellow cards of this Champions League campaign.

Thiago Silva (thigh) and Tammy Abraham (ankle) remain absent.

Atletico have no fresh injury concerns to report ahead of this match with every player in contention for selection.

 

Stat Attack

• Chelsea are unbeaten in six of seven previous Champions League matches against Atletico Madrid (W3, D3, L1).
• Atletico have won just one of three previous Champions League trips to Chelsea (W1, D1, L1).
• Three of Chelsea’s four home goals in the Champions League this season have come from the penalty spot, twice courtesy of Timo Werner and once from Jorginho.
• Atletico are unbeaten in three of their last five ‘away’ Champions League matches (W2, D1, L2).
• Two of Chelsea’s last three permanent managers have lost their first home Champions League game in charge of the Blues (W1, L2).

 

Prediction

After finding themselves held to a goalless draw at Leeds on Saturday through awful finishing and scoring just three goals in their last four matches, Chelsea will need to raise their game here yet will have to make do without two influential midfielders in Jorginho and Mount.

Atletico meanwhile have been in similar form but have been able to find the net more than Chelsea and have all their key players available unlike Chelsea, but the La Liga leaders have to step up their attacking which was fairly toothless in the first leg with the team often finding themselves in a 6-3-1 formation.

Should they do that then this could well be a tricky game for Chelsea otherwise I fancy them taking a draw from this match if can adapt to cope with their creative losses.

Prediction: Chelsea 1-1 Atletico Madrid

Result: Chelsea 2-0 Atletico Madrid (Chelsea win 3-0 on aggregate!!!)