2023-24 UEFA Champions League Quarter-Finals: First Leg – Atletico Madrid vs Borussia Dortmund

Atletico Madrid host Borussia Dortmund at Metropolitan Stadium in the first leg of their 2023-24 UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final.

Atletico eliminated last season’s runners-up, Inter Milan on penalties to reach this stage, whilst Borussia Dortmund saw off PSV in their Round of 16 tie.

 

Team News

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Mario Hermoso is a huge doubt for Atletico Madrid due to a muscle injury.

Thomas Lemar (Achilles) and Vitolo (ACL) remain absent.

Borussia Dortmund could welcome Donyell Malen back into contention after he suffered a thigh injury during March’s international break.

Ramy Bensebaini (knee) remains ruled out.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Atletico Madrid host Borussia Dortmund at Metropolitan Stadium on Wednesday 10 April at 9pm CET (8pm UK Time), live on TNT Sports 2 in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Atletico Madrid have won two of six previous meetings against Dortmund in all UEFA competitions (W2, D1 L3), of which both wins came in the Champions League (W2, L2).
• Borussia Dortmund have won one of their two previous Champions League visits to Atletico Madrid (W1, L1).
• The winning team of this fixture in two previous Champions League clashes in Madrid kept a clean sheet on both occasions.
• Five of Antoine Griezmann’s six goals for Atletico in this season’s competition have been scored at home.
• Dortmund have kept just one clean sheet on the road in this season’s Champions League (W2, D1, L1).

 

Prediction

Having dug deep to stun Inter Milan in the last round on penalties from 2-0 down on aggregate, Atletico certainly can’t be written off because they do have the quality and grit to cause issues but their defence is their Achilles with one clean sheet in the last two months.

Dortmund meanwhile are a dangerous team packed with goalscoring threats across the pitch but having lost to VfB Stuttgart last weekend, this competition now represents their best hope of Champions League qualification for next season.

I therefore do expect them to come here looking to seize the initiative heading into their home leg but Atletico won’t be easy to beat on their home turf, so a draw might well be a fair result which sets up a tasty second leg.

Prediction: Atletico Madrid 1-1 Borussia Dortmund

Result: Atletico Madrid 2-1 Borussia Dortmund