MX23RW : Saturday, November 23 02:21:22| >> :120:13273:13273:
[monks data]
Atletico Madrid logo
Champions League | Group Stage
Nov 26, 2014 at 7.45pm UK
 
Olympiacos

4-0

Garcia (9'), Mandzukic (38', 62', 65')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Olympiacos

Sports Mole looks ahead to the Champions League group fixture between last season's finalists Atletico Madrid and Olympiacos.

When Olympiacos visit the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday evening, the equation for hosts Atletico Madrid is simple: Win and they will have secured their place in the first knockout round of the Champions League.

After their 3-2 loss to the Greeks in Athens on matchday one, Diego Simeone's Atletico have won three group matches on the bounce and have not conceded a goal in the process.

Indeed, their home form in UEFA competitions is positive, having won 19 of their last 21 outings in front of their own supporters.

As far as team selection is concerned, Simeone has a major worry over centre-back Miranda, who injured his hamstring while on international duty with Brazil. Should the 30-year-old fail to recover, Jose Gimenez is expected to deputise.

There is also plenty of significance riding on this encounter for the away side. They currently sit in second spot, level on points with Italian champions Juventus. A win against Atletico would not guarantee their passage into the last 16, but with minnows Malmo to come on matchday six, it would boost their chances.

Head coach Michel, who spent most of his playing career with Real Madrid, has a near fully fit squad to select from, although winger Jimmy Durmaz has been struggling of late with a hamstring complaint.

These two sides met in Madrid back in 1993, with the home side running out 3-1 winners to seal a 4-2 aggregate Cup Winners' Cup victory.

Atletico:

Form in Champions League: WLLWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWLW

Possible starting lineup: Moya; Juanfran, Godin, Gimenez, Ansaldi; Garcia, Gabi; Koke, Turan, Griezmann; Mandzukic

Olympiacos:

Form in Champions League: WLWLWL
Form in all competitions: WWDDLW

Possible starting lineup: Jimenez; Elabdellaoui, Abidal, Botia, Masuaku; Afellay, Ndinga, Maniatis, Milivojevic; Dominguez; Mitroglou

Sports Mole says: 1-0


ID:189906: cacheID:189906:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:4135:No Data Analysis info

Previews by email

Click here to get Sports Mole's daily email of previews and predictions for every major game!


Restore Data
Share this article now:
Atletico Madrid head coach Diego Simeone gestures during the Champions League quarter final match against Barcelona on April 9, 2014
Read Next:
Preview: Atletico vs. Malaga
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS

League Phase

TeamPWDLPTS
1Liverpool440012
2Sporting Lisbon431010
3Brest431010
4Inter Milan431010
5Monaco431010
6Barcelona43019
7Dortmund43019
8Aston Villa43019
9Atalanta42208
10Juventus42117
11Lille42117
12Man City42117
13Arsenal42117
14B. Leverkusen42117
15Celtic42117
16Dinamo Zagreb42117
17AC Milan42026
18Bayern42026
19Benfica42026
20Feyenoord42026
21Real Madrid42026
22Brugge42026
23Atletico42026
24PSV41215
25Sparta Prague41124
26Stuttgart41124
27PSG41124
28Shakhtar41124
29Girona41033
30Salzburg41033
31Bologna40131
32RB Leipzig40040
33Sturm Graz40040
34Young Boys40040
35Red Star40040
36Slovan Bratislava40040


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!