The Champions League returns this week and fans are set to be rewarded with a heavyweight clash between Borussia Dortmund vs. Atlético Madrid.
Dortmund come into the match off the back of an incredible five straight victories, meanwhile Atleti have won five from their last seven, drawing only against Real Madrid and Villarreal at the weekend. Both teams have two wins from two Champions League games and this will be the first time that the sides have met competitively.
Read on for Borussia Dortmund vs. Atlético Madrid live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats and TV channel info.
When is Borussia Dortmund vs. Atlético Madrid?
Competition: Uefa Champions League
Venue: Westfalenstadion
Date: Wednesday, 24 October
Kick-off: 8:00 PM BST
Match Preview
Borussia Dortmund are really pushing things as hard as they can be in the Bundesliga. Under new coach Lucien Favre, Dortmund are top, three points clear of second place (and four ahead of a misfiring Bayern Munich) and have a preposterous goal difference of +19.
Obviously club legend Marco Reus is the man at the heart of the attack, but it’s youngster Jadon Sancho and the loanee Paco Alcácer who are added the serious stardust to Dortmund; Sancho has more assists than anyone else in the Bundesliga (six) and Paco is the division’s top scorer with seven goals. The additions of Axel Witsel and Thomas Delaney as midfield muscle this summer were seemingly made with this fixture in mind (even though it hadn’t been drawn yet).
And truly, Dortmund will need the brawl of Witsel and Delaney as they face down Diego Simeone’s juggernaut. After a rough start to the season (although they did beat Real Madrid in the Uefa Super Cup) they have rebounded and got back to their defensive best. They were held at the weekend, drawing 1-1 with Villarreal, but they are big-game fiends and in Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa, have two terrifyingly good forwards ready to test Dortmund’s energetic young defence.
This is the first-ever meeting between Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid, which is somewhat perfect as both sides are diametrically opposed to each other in terms of style and approach so this match will proven as a sort of battleground of ideas. Attack vs. defence, youth vs. battle-hardened veterans. Who will prevail?!
Where can I watch live?
Borussia Dortmund’s game against Atlético Madrid can be viewed by UK residents on BT Sport 3 via the red button service, channel 417 on Sky and channel 529 for Virgin Media users. BT Sport subscribers can also watch the game online at sport.bt.com and via their BT Sport app.
The game is also available to watch on fuboTV.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about fuboTV
Will Paco and Jadon continue their flying starts?
Paco Alcácer has had eight shots on target in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season. Every single one of them has gone in. His latest effort was a delicious chip in a 0-4 win against Stuttgart. Meanwhile Jadon Sancho has eight assists in all competitions this season, and in the Bundesliga alone he has been involved in eight goals (six assists and two goals) which is a club high. These two are absolutely unstoppable right now, and seeing if they can keep up this electric form against an opponent as defensively strong as Atlético Madrid is going to be fascinating.
Can Atlético’s defence shut Dortmund down?
Dortmund are flying; they’ve scored a preposterous 27 goals in the Bundesliga so far this season. That becomes 31 if you include their two Champions League games. However Atlético Madrid have conceded just five times in La Liga (seven including the Champions League). They are, and have been for a good many years now, the best defence in the business. Seeing them try to find a scheme, shape and strategy to stifle Borussia Dortmund will be interesting and will decide which way the result tips. If Simeone’s men can shut down Dortmund’s high-powered attack then their defence will be there for the taking.
Will Diego Costa start scoring again?
Since bagging two goals in the UEFA Super Cup, Diego Costa has scored a paltry one goal in nine games. He’s managed to contribute in that time, for sure, there’s more to his game than just scoring – but he has notably failed to finish chances. Costa has had 11 shots across both competitions and his solitary strike earns him a pathetic 9.6% conversion rate. That’s not good, but in Costa’s favour is the fact that his only goal since the Super Cup did come away from home in the Champions League, so maybe a trip to the Westfalenstadion is just what he needs?
Head To Head
Borussia Dortmund have been white-hot this season, winning nine out of their 11 games played so far in 2018/19. They have drawn just twice and failed to score just one. English teenage sensation Jadon Sancho has become a truly formidable creative force so far, notching eight assists so far this season. Meanwhile loan-star Paco Alcacer is in the form of his life, scoring eight goals in five games so far to help Dortmund to the top of both their Champions League group and the Bundesliga.
Atletico, meanwhile, began the season in miserable form. Well, they won the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid which was great, but then they went on to win just one of their next four, losing once to Celta Vigo. They gathered their strength, however, and have since gone seven games without defeat, winning five of those matches and conceding just three goals. They are a terrifyingly strong defensive outfit with Jan Oblak shining in goal.
Borussia Dortmund wins: 0 Draws: 0 Atlético Madrid wins: 0
Team News
Borussia Dortmund have a litany of defensive injuries, with Raphael Guerreiro, Marcel Schmelzer and Jeremy Toljan all likely to miss the game. Worse still is centre-back Manuel Akanji being out, which will force Lucien Favre to play the less-reliable Abdou Diallo and Dan-Axel Zagadou. On the plus side Marco Reus is fully fit and in fine form.
Atleti rested Diego Costa at the weekend so that he would be fit for this crunch clash, so you can expect him to play even if he may not be at 100%. José Giménez trained by himself on Monday, and the club are hopeful he will be fit enough to play vs. Dortmund.
Predicted Borussia Dortmund XI: Burki; Piszczek, Diallo, Zagadou, Hakimi; Witsel, Delaney; Sancho, Reus, Pulisic; Alcacer.
Predicted Atlético Madrid XI: Oblak; Juanfran, Giménez, GodÃn, Luis; Lemar, Saúl, Rodri, Koke; Griezmann, Costa.
Predictions & Betting Tips
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1. Atletico Madrid to win @ 2/1
One of the most exciting games of the week, both Dortmund and Atletico have started their Champions League campaigns off well – beating Monaco and Club Brugge.
But neither were really tested with Monaco a shadow of the team to win Ligue 1 in 2016/17 and Club Brugge some way off competing.
This Dortmund team are still under construction and growing, while Atletico are well into their time with Diego Simeone and can implement the Argentine’s gameplans perfectly – which should set them up for the win.
Key Stat: Atletico are unbeaten in their past eight games across all competitions.
Tip: Atletico Madrid to win @ 2/1 with William Hill – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (23/10/2018, 14:30)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
2. Both teams to score NO @ Evens
Borussia Dortmund are a superb side to watch when in full-flight, but Altetico Madrid are a defensive machine set up to suck the life out of opposition offences.
Diego Simeone’s men have kept four clean sheets in their past six games including one against Real Madrid to start of Los Blancos’ problems in front of goal.
This should prove to be too much for a Dortmund side who are truly yet to be tested against stern defensive opposition, ensuring only one team scores.
Key Stat: Atletico Madrid have conceded nine goals in 12 games so far this season.
Tip: Both teams to score NO @ Evens with William Hill – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (23/10/2018, 14:30)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
3. Antoine Griezmann to score first @ 9/2
Diego Costa may be struggling in front of goal for Atletico Madrid but Antoine Griezmann is still the man to be relied upon in the big games.
The Frenchman was the hero in Atletico’s Europa League victory last season, scoring a brace in the final, and the World Cup winner has continued that run in Europe this season.
While Costa bullies defences, Griezmann slips into the spaces on the pitch and makes the most of them, though it is yet to truly show this season. But eventually the goals come fast, and it could start against Dortmund.
Key Stat: Antoine Griezmann has scored two goals in the Champions League this season.
Tip: Antoine Griezmann to score first @ 9/2 with William Hill – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (23/10/2018, 14:30)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
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