RB Leipzig vs Atletico Madrid 14/08/20

14 August 2020

RB Leipzig’s second season in the UEFA Champions League has brought the club’s most notable achievement as they take on Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals at the Estádio da Luz.

Leipzig sealed a place in the Champions League knockout stages as Group G winners, having lost only one of six group-stage fixtures (W3, D2) and none away from home. Julian Nagelsmann’s side then swept aside Tottenham 4-0 on aggregate (1-0 A, 3-0 H) in the round of 16, meaning five of their six European wins this season saw them score over 1.5 goals. Yet, not as nearly experienced in Europe as their upcoming rivals, ‘Die Roten Bullen’ have never faced a Spanish opponent in an official match. However, Leipzig can rely on the fact they have successfully negotiated a way through in five of their six previous UEFA ties.

Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, finished runners-up to Juventus in Group D, winning half of their six group-stage matches (W3, D1, L2). Diego Simeone’s side then overcame Liverpool in the round of 16, thanks to 3-2 win after extra-time at Anfield (1-0 H, 0-1 A). It means that six of Atletico’s seven results (wins/losses) in the Champions League this season saw the winner on the day keep a clean sheet (90 minutes only). But, Los Colchoneros have lost four of their last seven European encounters outside of Madrid (W2, D1). They also lament an indifferent overall record against Bundesliga rivals (W21, D7, L16), losing five of their previous six clashes against such an opponent away from Spain.